Yeng Guiao lauds Calvin Oftana after game-winner: 'He stepped into the shoes of Kiefer'

Coach Yeng Guiao commended Calvin Oftana for his late heroics that steered the NLEX Road Warriors past the Meralco Bolts in their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal clash on Wednesday.

Oftana, a former NCAA MVP for San Beda University, drained the game-winning layup off an inbound pass from Jericho Cruz with seconds left in the game to edge Meralco, 81-80, and force a rubber match on Friday.

Guiao revealed the play was really designed for the rookie despite his mishaps late in the game.

"It went exactly as we planned it but of course sometimes it happens [and] sometimes it doesn't happen for you. But we're really lucky that it happened for us this time," Guiao said in the post-game press conference.

"Actually 'yung last play na 'yun, if we had Kiefer with us, that would have been for Kiefer. But [Calvin] stepped into the shoes of Kiefer and he's done excellently so far."

Kiefer Ravena, NLEX's floor general, is currently in Japan to play for the Shiga Lakestars in the B.League after getting the green light from the Road Warriors and the PBA.

In his absence, Oftana got the opportunity to grow as a player after Guiao trusted him with the most crucial play of the game.

"We all know the upside is almost unlimited for Calvin," the coach said.

"He made a couple of mistakes [and] some lapses in the endgame but he made up for it with that shot. And that's the way rookies are developed. That's the way rookies mature."

—MGP, GMA News