A few days before Game One of the NCAA Season 95 Seniors Basketball Finals, Calvin Oftana received some pleasant news.
The fourth-year Red Lion was set to be hailed as the Most Valuable Player of the season.
However, his high came crashing down after San Beda lost to arch-rival Letran, 64-65, that sent them to the brink.
For Oftana, though, his team needed that wake-up call.
“Tapos na ‘yun. Wala na sa isip ko ‘yun. Ang gusto ko ngayon manalo kami sa Game Two. Wala sa akin ‘yun — nangyari na eh. Ako ‘yung napili. Thankful ako sa God at sa teammates ko,” said Oftana, who averaged 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks during the elimination round.
“Pero ‘pag sa loob ng court, walang MVP, walang Mythical Five, walang star diyan. We got to play as a team kasi ‘yun ang importante sa amin.”
Despite playing their worst game of the season, San Beda had a chance to down Letran. Down by one with five seconds left, Oftana saw daylight after a broken off-the-timeout play. However, his triple attempt only clunked off the rim.
“Actually, they know the play, we just didn’t execute it. We’ve been practicing that the last twenty-seven days. It’s probably because of the pressure and down by one. We simulated that already. It’s a matter of execution,” recalled Fernandez about the play.
“I will always take the blame when we los[e] and it’s the guys who will step up.
“Nag-mintis eh. Goal talaga na ipasok ko ‘yung tira na ‘yun pero ‘di pumasok. ‘Di namin na-execute ‘yung play ni coach kaya ganoon ‘yung nangyari. Dapat screen ‘yun kay James [Canlas] and James will take the shot. Hindi nangyari,” lamented Oftana, who had 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting and six rebounds.
On Friday, it’s put up or shut up time for the Red Lions. And Oftana and the rest of the Red Lions that are set to be feted don’t want their celebration to be ruined, instead vowing to extend the series or die trying.
“Sweep or not sweep, same thing naman. Balewala na ‘yung sweep namin sa eliminations. Ang goal namin is ‘yung championship. ‘Di pa naman tapos, Game One pa lang. We have Game Two and Game Three,” declared Oftana.
“Bounce back kami sa Game Two.”
