PBA Player of the Week Oftana's consistency helps TNT recovery

MANILA, Philippines — Calvin Oftana has been instrumental to TNT’s rise after a slow start to their Grand Slam bid.

Oftana averaged 25 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals this week on his way to being adjudged as the PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week.

Oftana displayed consistency throughout the week from May 7-11, which lifted TNT to two wins during this period and a 3-3 win-loss record in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup.

The former San Beda standout poured 22 points, four rebounds and three blocks in the Tropang 5G’s 110-74 win over Terrafirma last Wednesday, and churned across-the-board numbers of 28 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in their 101-84 rout of Meralco last Sunday.

The 29-year-old has now won his third Player of the Week honor this season, putting him in line to capture the Order of Merit plum at the end of the season to be given by the group of reporters from broadsheets, tabloids, and online publications covering the PBA beat.

But Oftana declined to take all the credit for the current winning streak of the Tropang 5G, as he gave a special mention to Brian Heruela and the rest of their second stringers for providing energy consistent with what the first group displayed.

He is also making a concerted effort to grab more rebounds with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson not around for the all-local conference. In the past two games, TNT has outrebounded its opponents by an average of 8.5 per outing.

“Hindi lang naman ako. Everyone contributed in different aspects of the game like sa rebounding at depensa,” said Oftana.  “Credit to Heruela, siya ‘yung energy guy namin. I talk to him about that na siya ‘yung magbigay ng energy para paglabas namin, nandoon pa rin ‘yung presence namin.

“I need to focus on rebounding kasi wala si RHJ, but lahat nagko-contribute sa rebounding,” said Oftana.