With Mikey Williams watching, Calvin Oftana and the rest of the TNT Tropang Giga dealt the Ginebra Gin Kings a stinging loss in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Calvin Oftana found the time to exchange pleasantries with Mikey Williams in TNT’s 91-86 win over Ginebra in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Friday, Jan. 17.
Williams was sitting courtside at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig when his former team, Tropang Giga, raced to a sixth straight win in eight games.
It was the first time Williams saw his former teammates after a contract dispute led to his departure following their 2024 Governors’ Cup conquest.
“Kinumusta ko lang siya. As a player, wala naman kami… okay naman siya sa amin. Okay naman siya. Parang fit pa nga siya ngayon, eh,” said Oftana.
[RELATED STORY: Mikey Williams admits wanting to play for TNT: ‘I want to be out there with them’]
With Williams watching, Oftana ran amok and fired 32 points as the Tropang Giga inched closer to a playoff berth in the mid-season joust.
The Gilas Pilipinas standout, whose free throws with 6.4 ticks left to play gave the team enough cushion to win, also had seven rebounds and an assist.
“We’re just doing our thing, 'yung sistema ni coach Chot (Reyes),” Oftana added.
RR Pogoy is also seen shaking hands with his former TNT teammate Mikey Williams in the Tropang Giga's match against Ginebra in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Friday, Jan. 17. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson atoned for a spotty free throw shooting the previous game and shot 13-for-13 from the stripe on his way to 25 points. He also put up 13 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
Poy Erram added 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
“We tried to play our best defensively and gave up only 86 points to a team like this. That’s something to be happy about,” said Reyes.
[RELATED STORY: Chot Reyes bares he hasn’t talked to Mikey Williams in a while: 'We've had radio silence']
Meanwhile, Justin Brownlee paced Ginebra with 20 points — but shot 5-for-21 from the field — 16 rebounds and five assists.
Though relatively struggling, Brownlee made his presence felt in the endgame, scoring five points in the last minute to help the Gin Kings trim an 75-85 deficit to three, 86-89.
But that was all Ginebra could do at that point.
Stephen Holt fired three triples and ended up with 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists, while Troy Rosario submitted 16 points, eight rebounds, an assist and two steals.
Ginebra thus dropped to no. 7 with a 6-4 win-loss record.
The Scores:
TNT 91 – Oftana 32, Hollis-Jefferson 25, Erram 10, Castro 9, Pogoy 6, Razon 3, Aurin 3, Khobuntin 3, Galinato 0, K.Williams 0, Heruela 0.
GINEBRA 86 – Brownlee 20, Holt 18, Rosario 16, Thompson 9, Abarrientos 8, J.Aguilar 7, Malonzo 6, Ahanmisi 2.
Quarterscores: 22-25, 45-46, 68-64, 91-86