Through four games in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals, all eyes have been on Calvin Oftana. 

In Games 1 and 2, Oftana had a combined 24 points and converted on only 40 percent of his 20 field goal attempts. The shots weren’t falling and both Oftana and the TNT Tropang 5G were fortunate to be in a tied series with the San Miguel Beermen. Talk of a passive Oftana grew and the Tropang 5G faithful started to feel a golden opportunity was going to be wasted. 

But perhaps they only needed to be a bit more patient. 

Since then, Oftana has more than doubled that output through two games (54 points) and has converted on 61.1 percent of his 36 field goal attempts. In fact, the two-time PBA All-Star was surgically precise in the Tropang 5G’s 110-87 demolition of the Beermen, dissecting the defense with a healthy combination of nifty layups and tough jumpshots.

Even with the lopsided score early on, those who tuned in witnessed Oftana at his best. He was active on both ends of the floor, scoring at will and also being a pest on the defensive end. The three-time PBA champion was playing as if he was trying to rally from a deficit and he wasn’t letting up. That being said, it helped set the tone for TNT, especially given the urgency to avoid a 3-1 series deficit and the need to sustain the momentum going forward. 

Watching Oftana play basketball makes one think the game is easy for him. He has the potential to be a 50-40-90 player every year and he’s a matchup problem for pretty much any defender. But the potential has not always materialized into championships, and this has been a point of frustration for fans. Consistency is one thing, but a killer instinct (or lack thereof) has been a sore point especially with Oftana’s talent. Being a force on both ends of the court is a great start, but he will have to show he can continue to contribute even when his shot isn’t falling. 

For now, though, Calvin Oftana’s offense has been a much-needed boost in the middle of this PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals against the San Miguel Beermen. Playing against the Beermen in the finals has not ended well for them in the past, but with the series tied and a virtual best-of-three series now in play, the opportunity is there for Oftana and the Tropang 5G to take. There will be a chance Oftana enters a slump, but the TNT faithful hope that crunch time comes, he will nonetheless show up to make the right play.