TNT’s Oftana eyes quick turnaround after a 2-point bad night

SILENCED in their Game 3 loss, TNT gunner Calvin Oftana is aching for a quick atonement.

Mr. Oftana coughed up a meager two points on an awful one-of-eight clip as the Tropang 5G absorbed a 102-116 setback to Barangay Ginebra on Sunday and fell, 1-2, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.

Much was expected from Mr. Oftana especially coming off his 31-point explosion two nights before when he went five-of-10 from beyond the arc and shot 11-of-18 overall in powering TNT to a 101-94 Game 2 equalizer.

As such, he became the focal point of the Ginebra defense afterwards.

With Mr. Oftana, as well as Rey Nambatac, not in their usual selves, it was Chris McCullough who carried the brunt of scoring with 44 points, with Roger Pogoy the only one providing sufficient support with 28.

TNT coach Chot Reyes pointed to the defending champions’ erratic ways that led to easy transition points and Ginebra’s sizzling shooting as the key differences in the Game 3 tiebreaker.

“Excellent, excellent officiating today. I have to commend the officiating crew. Excellent officiating,” Mr. Reyes, who actually contested a number of calls and was slapped a technical foul during the game, said. — Olmin Leyba