Calvin Oftana could have become the first Philippine team player since 1962 to snag back-to-back Asian Games men’s basketball championships.
The TNT star winger would have joined all-time greats Caloy Loyzaga and Kurt Bachman in truly elite company, had he and Gilas Pilipinas kept the country’s throne as kings of the prestigious quadrennial continental conclave.
But that is all what-ifs now, after the program fell into a nightmare run in the 20th Asiad. The team got ousted during the group stage by a China team bent on exacting revenge over what happened in 2023.
The national team mainstay couldn’t deny how tough their fate was in the tilt ruled by South Korea, who took down host Japan, 67-57, for gold medal no. 5 — and to tie the Philippines for the second-most number of titles in the event.
“Sayang. Pero ‘yun nga, sabi ko, hindi araw-araw, Pasko,” lamented Oftana.
“May mga times na gusto mong manalo pero hindi sumasang-ayon sa inyo.”
If anything, the former NCAA MVP out of San Beda provided one of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult run despite being a last-minute addition to the lineup after Justin Brownlee stayed put at home to continue his recovery.
He fired 31 points in their opening game, albeit in an 89-85 loss to Bahrain, in an apparent justification for his late inclusion.
(C) PBA Images
He then went on to finish the tourney with per-game averages of 18.6 points, capped by a 13-point showing against the Chinese. He was the only player in double figures in the 105-61 whipping they received from the eight-time champions.
Despite that debacle, Oftana remained proud of the all-PBA unit that flew to Aichi as they all tried to represent the Philippines as hard as they could.
“Ginawa ko lang naman ‘yung best ko roon,” he said.
“Nag-underperform man kami, hindi man kami nakapasok sa next round, I’m just proud na ni-represent namin ‘yung country with all our might, kung ano man ‘yung makakaya namin.
“I’m just proud na na-represent namin ‘yung bansa namin, nang walang halong kaba, walang ibang iniisip, na maglaro lang para sa bansa. And i-represent ‘yung mga Pilipino roon, at mga coaches at mga teammates ko,” he added.
Delivering in the Asian Games was a reminder of how solid he is when healthy. And he proved it on Wednesday, when he led TNT to a 116-92 win over Terrafirma in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup resumption.
As if emulating his performance against the Bahrainis, the 30-year-old fired 31 points in his first game back since the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals to power the Tropang 5G to their fifth win to move closer to the quarterfinals.
Oftana is just glad to be playing without any pain after being hounded by calf and foot injuries during the title series last June, which Ginebra won in seven.
“Parang rookie year ko nga ulit,” he quipped.
“Happy na makalaro ulit. Happy ako na nakalaro na walang iniinda, walang masakit sa paa, sa legs ko. Thankful ako kay God na ibinalik niya akong healthy rito. Nandito ulit tayo para maglaro.
