Calvin Oftana comes alive late as TNT sends NLEX to 5th straight loss

Calvin Oftana rediscovered his shooting touch in the fourth quarter to steer the streaking TNT to a 94-87 win against NLEX in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

The sharpshooter, who was struggling offensively in the first three quarters, dropped nine points in the crucial fourth period en route to finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal against his old team.

With Oftana providing the late spark, the Tropang Giga cruised to their fifth consecutive victory to improve to 5-2 while the Road Warriors have yet to end their dry spell as they dropped to 3-6. 

"First of all, we had no illusions that this would be an easy game. We knew it was going to be a hard game because NLEX is basically fighting for survival," TNT head coach Chot Reyes said. 

"We anticipated and we knew we had to do the job on Kevin Alas because Kevin has always played a career game against TNT and that's exactly [what] happened."

NLEX looked like it was on its way to the victory, turning a 39-all halftime deadlock to a 62-53 lead in the third quarter after import Mike Watkins erupted for 16 points in that juncture. 

However, the Tropang Giga leaned on old reliables Jayson Castro and RR Pogoy in ending the frame with a 10-5 rampage for just a 67-63 deficit. 

NLEX then lost steam in the payoff period with the likes of Kim Aurin, Pogoy, Rey Nambatac, and import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson contributing as they regained an 80-72 cushion. 

TNT captured back-to-back three-point plays from Glenn Khobuntin and Oftana, who brought the Tropang Giga to an 87-76 advantage with 4:12 remaining. 

Oftana sank a pair of free throws before he made another triple over the defense of Watkins as TNT enjoyed a 93-83 cushion. Before that three-pointer, the former NCAA MVP was just 1-of-7 from deep. 

Hollis-Jefferson was in his usual form, posting 23 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks, and one steal while Pogoy churned out 18 markers, two dimes, one board, and one steal. 

Watkins, meanwhile, led the way for NLEX with a huge double-double of 33 points and 20 rebounds alongside two assists and four blocks but his production was not enough as they are now in danger of elimination. 

Scores:

TNT 94 – Hollis-Jefferson 23, Pogoy 18, Oftana 14, Erram 8, Aurin 8, Castro 6, Razon 6, Nambatac 5, Galinato 2, K.Williams 2, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0.

NLEX 87 – Watkins 33, Alas 16, Torres 7, Policarpio 6, Mocon 6, Herndon 6, Bolick 4, Valdez 4, Rodger 3, Ramirez 2, Fajardo 0, Nieto 0.

Quarters:  24-19, 39-39, 67-63, 94-87.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News