While eyes are mostly on the one-two punch of King Gurtiza and Harvey Pagsanjan, there is another one who is silently providing crucial numbers for Emilio Aguinaldo College in NCAA Season 100.
Wilmar Oftana is now the Generals' third top scorer, averaging 9.0 points a game behind an impressive 35 percent shooting from beyond the arc to emerge as the seventh best in the league in the department.
His stellar outside shooting was on full display once during their game against Perpetual last October 11, when he shot three of his four triples in the third quarter to fuel their comeback win.
EAC head coach Jerson Cabiltes, however, says his second-year wingman is more than just his triples.
"Kay Wilmar Oftana is ang nakikita lang sa kanya ay ‘yung three-point shooting niya," Cabiltes said.
"But he’s top five in blocks and he’s consistent in making double digit rebounds for us. Aside from those, it’s the intimidation factor, he has a very good timing din."
Oftana, who played for one season for Arellano University in Season 98 before deciding to jump ship to EAC, has been shining on all ends for Cabiltes in their centennial campaign.
The 23-year-old cager is tied at seventh spot with Letran bruiser Kevin Santos in the rebounding department, posting 6.5 boards per game, while also emerging as the fourth best in the league in steals with 1.92 swats a game.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Oftana is also a defensive threat with 1.08 blocks per game, the fourth best in the league behind Santos (2.42), JRU's Ivan Panapanaan (1.36), and Benilde's Allen Liwag (1.27).
His numbers, according to Cabiltes, are enough proof that Oftana is a key cog in what they are running this year.
"He’s thriving in our program that we have so talagang maganda rin na nandito siya to stretch out the floor," the second-year tactician said.
"‘Yun ang unang nakikita natin pero all aspects naman ng game niya, maraming na-improve na."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
