CALVIN OFTANA pulled off an offensive gem not often seen from rookies like him as NLEX edged Meralco, 81-80, on Wednesday to send their quarterfinal duel to a do-or-die match in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Meralco was the No. 2 seed after the eliminations and NLEX No. 7 with the Road Warriors needing to beat the Bolts twice to stay alive in the playoffs.
Reynel Hugnatan used his veteran wits to give Meralco an 80-79 lead with 55 seconds left, sending NLEX to scamper for a final-minute play to turn the game around.
Oftana was no ordinary rookie as NLEX Coach Yeng Guiao kept him in the game at crunch time.
The former San Beda Red Lions star missed a three-pointer in the next play, but redeemed himself by grabbing the rebound. He called for time.
Oftana then completed his heroic by receiving the inbounds pass from Jericho Cruz, drove to the basket in the process scattering the Bolts defense and sank the clincher—time down to six seconds.
Desperate for the win, Cliff Hodge made a desperate trey but was blocked by JR Quiñahan at the buzzer.
“It was intended for him [Oftana]. It went exactly as we planned it, but of course sometimes it does happen, sometimes it doesn’t,” Guiao said. “We’re just lucky it happened this time.”
Oftana, 25 and the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half to go with nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block—numbers that validate his Most Valuable Player trophy in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95.
“We’re just trying to survive every game. Meralco is a very solid team—and there’s a reason why, they are second place,” added Guiao, who’s already missing the services of Kiefer Ravena, now playing in Japan’s J.League.
Allein Maliksi had 16 points, Mac Belo made 12 points, Nards Pinto and Hugnatan got 11 points each for the Bolts.
The Bolts and Road Warriors square off in a no-tomorrow game at 6 p.m. on Friday.