The two locals combined to score 24 of TNT’s 38-point third quarter en route to a Game 2 romp against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Calvin Oftana scored TNT’s first basket in the third frame off a triple from the top of the arc in their Game 2 clash against the Rain or Shine.
It was all he needed to let loose.
Oftana built off from that and went on to score 16 more points in the second half to anchor the Tropang Giga’s resounding 108-91 thumping of Rain or Shine for a 2-0 lead in their Governors’s Cup semis lead.
[ALSO READ: PBA: TNT rides another strong third quarter to dismantle Rain or Shine, seizes 2-0 semis lead]
Rey Nambatac also helped TNT’s breakaway in the third frame when he scored 11 points alone in that frame. He finished with an all-around game of 16 points, six rebounds and four dimes.
Both the youngsters combined to score 24 of the Tropang Giga’s 38-point output in the third quarter.
For Oftana, it was just being aggressive on the offensive end that he’s all thinking about.
“Yung adjustment pa rin is tira pa rin ng tira. Sabi ng mga coaches and ‘yung mga kasama ko: just keep taking shots. Papasok din yan,” the two-time PBA All-Star told reporters in the post-game press conference.
And it worked, making TNT wins short of making it to the Finals for the second-successive year.
While it also helped that the Tropang Giga committed another single-digit turnover game, it was inside the shaded lane that they shredded the Rain or Shine in the paint after a 56-28-point advantage.
Oftana added that he was just doing his job to ease the offensive load to import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who put up 28 points and eight rebounds.
“Yun lang naman kaya kong gawin, tumira, rumebound, [at] minsan dumipensa kung maganda ang tulog,” Oftana joked.
Overall, the two-time PBA Second Mythical Team member pointed out that the swift ball distribution to start the second half paved the way for TNT to pull away.
“Maganda lang siguro ‘yung ball movement namin sa third quarter and nakuha namin ‘yung lamang doon.”
Oftana and the Tropang Giga now set their sight to send the Elasto Painters to the brink of elimination as they gun for a 3-0 lead in Game 3 on Sunday, October 13.