![TNT's coaching staff will ask a lot more from Gilas Pilipinas CEO Calvin Oftana (No. 15) when the Commissioner's Cup begins. —PBA IMAGES](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/11/Sports563459.jpg)
TNT’s coaching staff will ask a lot more from Gilas Pilipinas CEO Calvin Oftana (No. 15) when the Commissioner’s Cup begins. —PBA IMAGES
With a memorable and historic stint at the Asian Games (Asiad) under his belt and a bigger role amid the absence of several key players, TNT’s Calvin Oftana could be poised for a banner season in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
But Oftana does not want to put pressure on himself to live up to expectations, even though coach Jojo Lastimosa sees the versatile forward as someone who could be the main man for the Tropang Giga in the coming season.
“It’s difficult to meet those expectations. All I want to do is play in the [system of the] team,” Oftana said in Filipino as TNT looks ahead to Sunday’s Commissioner’s Cup opener against Magnolia at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Oftana was also expected to see some action at the time of writing when the Tropang Giga hosted Japanese B.League side Chiba Jets in the East Asia Super League at City of Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna, and gives a preview of what he could possibly do in his third season in the big league.
The 27-year-old forward was one of the main reasons why Gilas ended the country’s long wait for gold at the Asian Games, by standing on the podium in Hangzhou, China, after a dramatic victory in the semi final against the host. country and won the final against TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jordan.
Being at perhaps the highest point of his career has made people feel that Oftana could become one of the best players during this PBA season as he could flourish with Mikey Williams still in a stalemate with TNT’s management, and RR Pogoy is out due to a heart condition. and Poy Erram is still recovering from knee surgery.
Defense, rebounding
“I don’t want to put any pressure on Calvin, but he will have to carry the burden differently than Jayson [Castro] and the rest of the guys,” Lastimosa said. “Calvin has a bigger responsibility in terms of scoring in the upcoming conference and even in the All-Filipino (Philippine Cup) because we don’t know when Roger will come back.
“But I think he’s capable of that, I think he can produce and I think he has the skills to be the lead guy. So I expect nothing less than that Calvin will be present at this conference,” Lastimosa added.
Oftana has shown he can step up offensively after averaging 17 points in the 2022 Philippine Cup, his last conference with NLEX under coach Yeng Guiao, before being dealt to TNT in a three-team deal.
He can also provide solid defense and rebounding either as a small forward or power forward. And those are things TNT would have to squeeze out of him to put themselves in the conversation to become a title contender despite the lack of manpower.
“We miss our core players with Mikey not here, Roger still dealing with his condition and Poy recovering from his injury, so I think it’s best for us to play as a team,” Oftana said.
“We have some good players, we have a good system and we have good coaches and I believe those things will help us a lot.”