By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
TNT Tropang Giga superstar swingman Calvin Oftana dethroned Magnolia’s Paul Lee and dominated the PBA All-Star three-point shootout on March 23, 2024, at the University of Saint La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.
Despite finishing third place in the elimination round after scoring 22 points behind Chris Newsome (28) and Lee (25), Oftana heated up in the most crucial round and put the crowd on their feet with his majestic shooting performance.
Oftana capped off his title-clinching round with 25 points, five points higher than Lee’s final round production (20) and way better than Newsome’s 15-point performance.
The TNT small forward started slow in the first rack, missing his first shot badly while shooting his next two attempts far from the rim.
Oftana then adjusted in his fourth and final shot in the first rack to put up the first points on board. After draining two straight trifectas, the savvy scorer waxed hot from downtown and perfected the second rack, going 5/5.
His lights-out shooting continued in the next racks and sank three out of his five money balls from the spot at the top of the key.
Oftana then converted the dagger after swishing his long-distanced special ball in the right elbow which consisted of three points.
With still two racks remaining, Oftana already reached 18 points and was bound for a sweet finish. As early as the fourth rack, he already cruised past Lee’s 20 made points after wrapping up the fourth with three made treys.
Oftana finished the final rack with a 3/5 shooting and was already embraced by Lee and Newsome before he drained the money ball.
With the scintillating win, Oftana will be heading back to Manila with a 30,000-pesos grand prize for winning the three-point contest.
