Calvin Oftana erupted for a career-high 42 points to power TNT past the struggling Magnolia, 103-100, for their breakthrough win in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup, Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The 6-foot-5 winger nailed a total of nine threes as the Tropang Giga rode his hot hands in taking control of the game and repelling the Hotshots’ late-game comeback attempt en route to win no. 1 after a rare 0-2 start into the tilt.
“Maganda lang gising,” he said. “Ginagawa ko naman ‘yun araw-araw, sa praktis. Giving credit din sa mga teammates ko, sa lahat.”
Oftana already had 23 points on four triples in the first half alone as he led the perennial contenders to a slim 52-48 heading into the intermission.
And when Magnolia threatened in the closing minutes, he was there to help restore order as well, nailing his last two shots from the outside to give themselves the 102-90 lead with only 1:20 left to play.
“Last game pa mainit si Calvin, but in the second half, we failed to get him the ball in the crucial moments. So we talked about that as a team and I’m glad the players responded to continue to find him,” said Coach Chot Reyes.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson submitted a 40-point performance himself, finishing with 41 points alongside 13 rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
It’s the first time in 33 years that an import-local duo scored at least 40 in the same game, according to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
Terrance Bailey and Allan Caidic had 45 and 42, respectively, to lead Presto Tivoli to a 147-136 win over San Miguel back in the 1991 Third Conference.
TNT (1-2) will look to get a winning run going when it takes on Blackwater on December 19, Thursday, 7:30 PM also at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Ricardo Ratliffe, meanwhile, had 27 points and 14 rebounds to lead Magnolia, who absorbed its third straight defeat and fell to 1-3.
The trio of Mark Barroca, Calvin Abueva, and Ian Sangalang had 18 apiece in the loss where the team continued to miss the services of Paul Lee.
The Hotshots will look to snap its skid against streaking Rain or Shine (3-1) on December 18, Wednesday, 5:00 PM also at NAS.
The Scores:
TNT 103 – Oftana 42, Hollis-Jefferson 41, Pogoy 6, Erram 6, Heruela 4, Nambatac 4, Razon 0, Galinato 0, Khobuntin 0, Varilla 0, Aurin 0.
Magnolia 100 – Ratliff 27, Barroca 18, Abueva 18, Lastimosa 18, Sangalang 9, Eriobu 5, Dionisio 3, Mendoza 2, Dela Rosa 0, Ahanmisi 0, Balanza 0.
Quarterscores: 33-25, 52-48, 83-69, 103-100.
