Oftana, TNT to focus on quarters hurdle as Grand Slam bid in peril
At A Glance
- Calvin Oftana and TNT are not crying over spilled milk and instead are focusing on whatever they need to do to keep their title bid alive.
Calvin Oftana and TNT are not crying over spilled milk and instead, are focusing on whatever they need to do to keep their title bid alive.
After reigning supreme in the first two conferences, the Tropang 5G found themselves in unfamiliar territory, falling to the bottom four in the Magic 8 after dropping an 83-88 decision against the Magnolia Hotshots.
That also put their Grand Slam bid in peril as they are now in a twice-to-win disadvantage in the quarterfinals against a Top 4 team.
“Ganun talaga eh, mas aggressive sila. Ang dami rin namang chances na pwedeng manalo rin,” said Oftana after the game where he finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Truth be told, it was a nip-and-tuck affair between the teams considered as contenders until the late third frame and the early fourth quarter – a stretch where the Hotshots unloaded a back-breaking 16-0 run to seize control of the game.
With that game over and done with, Oftana said there's no other choice for TNT but to move forward and prepare for whoever they will be facing in the quarterfinals.
“Nangyari na eh, so kung anong nasa harap na lang namin, iyon na lang yung gagawin namin. At least nasa quarters pa kami. May chance naman; di pa naman natapos,” he said.
Although Oftana is defiant, he admitted that facing any of the Top 4 teams, let alone beating them twice, would be a hard task for the Tropang 5G.
“Talagang mahirap. Pero gaya nga ng sinabi sa huddle namin, ano man ang mangyari, huwag nating isipin yung bukas. Tingnan natin kung anong meron ngayon,” said Oftana, whose TNT could once again face Magnolia depending on the results of the final elims game day.
“Ngayon nga talo na kami pero ganun talaga ang basketball. Di naman araw araw Pasko. May mga times talaga na ganito. Ayaw rin naman naming mangyari ito pero nangyari na, so kung sino mang makalaban namin, talagang paghahandaan namin,” he added.