Oftana takes Brownlee’s spot as Gilas’ 12th man in Asian Games

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Calvin Oftana is back.

With naturalized player Justin Brownlee now confirmed unavailable for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the TNT Tropang 5G superstar has just answered the call to complete the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team’s official 12-man roster.

It was Gilas head coach Tim Cone who provided the update, announcing that Oftana would immediately fly to join the national team’s remaining practice sessions.

Cone revealed that Oftana was already on the team’s short list, but Gilas was uncertain about his availability due to his lingering health issues; he missed the last two windows of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers due to hamstring and toe injuries.

Oftana played a spark plug role for the national team when he was still included in the previous FIBA windows, filling the wing as a shooter while also banking on his length to defend multiple positions.

Although he struggled in the February window after scoring only a combined six points in two games, Oftana was highly utilized when Cone deployed a small-ball lineup.

Several days ago, Cone hinted at Brownlee’s possible absence, saying that Gilas would be ready with an 11-man roster and without a naturalized player.

However, Oftana’s inclusion is a welcome sight for the national team, especially after dismal outings in their tune-up friendlies against Korea.

Gilas lost both games by lopsided margins, sustaining back-to-back blowouts to a Korean squad fresh off a convincing FIBA WC Asian Qualifiers campaign.

Spearheading Gilas’ title defense is NLEX Road Warriors superstar Robert Bolick, who is also making a return to the national team after previously donning the blue and white threads during the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.

Alongside Bolick in the backcourt is arguably one of the most sought-after players among Filipino fans for inclusion in Gilas, Rain or Shine’s rising star Adrian Nocum.

Providing an interior threat and post presence are Converge’s one-two frontcourt punch of Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana, Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero, Meralco’s Brandon Bates, and TNT’s Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

Also included in the final cut are San Miguel’s Don Trollano and Jerrick Ahanmisi, Blackwater’s Sedrick Barefield, and Ginebra’s floor general RJ Abarrientos.