Calvin Oftana was due for a Gilas Pilipinas slumpbuster. 

In the ongoing 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers, Oftana is only averaging 3.0 points on 28.6 percent shooting from the field. He’s often gotten flak for his offensive woes, and it certainly wasn’t helping he was a starter who played around 12 minutes per game, which was around the same amount Carl Tamayo played in the qualifiers. 

Thus, Oftana’s last-minute inclusion to the 2026 Asian Games roster was met with mixed reactions. There were those that lauded him for making the sacrifice with a few days left before the games began, but there were also some that felt he wasn’t really going to fill the Justin Brownlee-sized hole that put the team’s campaign in peril. 

However, Oftana made quite the first impression in the Philippines’ opening assignment against Bahrain. 

Oftana was aggressive from the jump, getting to his spots and aggressively attacking Bahrain’s reinforced defense. There were no signs of rust as he was able to blow by defenders and withstand contact from a physical Bahrain defense. Unfortunately, the three-time PBA All-Star’s efforts went for naught as Gilas could not overcome Bahrain in the end. 

Loss aside, this is a positive development for Oftana. Deploying him in international play has often been easier said than done and many have wondered if the former San Beda Red Lion’s time with the national team would become less and less, especially as Gilas Pilipinas relies on those who ply their trade in leagues abroad. But Oftana has shown that when he is given the opportunity, he can take over the way he does with the TNT Tropang 5G.  

The Philippines remains in the hunt despite the defeat, but they would need to win against Kazakhstan and China to earn an automatic berth in the quarterfinals. If Oftana sustains his solid effort and the rest of Gilas finds their offensive rhythm, Gilas Pilipinas has a shot to move onto the next round. 

Beyond the Asian Games, though, this is a confidence builder for Oftana. The 30-year-old was dealing with a nagging toe injury for much of the year and it affected how he contributed not just to the national team’s cause, but also that of the Tropang 5G. It’s not exactly a confidence-altering injury but it didn’t make Oftana feel any better that he couldn’t go all out for his team and country. 

But now, Calvin Oftana has reintroduced himself with the type of performance that will lift his spirits and that of Gilas Pilipinas. It validated his last-minute inclusion and if things continue to play out this way, we could see a redemption arc in the next couple of days.