By ANGELO CAPARAS
TNT gunner Calvin Oftana played down his verbal spat with Rain or Shine’s Jhonard Clarito, saying he now fully understands his physicality and he holds no grudges against him.
With the clock winding down, tensions flared as Jhonard Clarito dove hard at Jordan Heading, triggering a heated reaction as Glen Khobuntin shoved Clarito away, while Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser confronted the tough as nails forward.
They exchanged fiery words.
“Siguro nami-misinterpret ko lang ’yung mga ginagawa niya. Kasi alam naman natin na hard worker si Jhonard [Clarito],” said Oftana.
The Cebuano forward is convinced that Clarito is not a dirty player – thanks to teammate Poy Eram.
In fact, Erram said otherwise for Clarito.
For Erram, Clarito is the heart and soul of Rain or Shine, noting that that the team thrives when Clarito delivers a gallant performance.
“Sabi rin ni Poy [Erram], siya yung heart and soul ng team nila. Kung maganda yung laro niya, maganda rin yung kalalabasan. Totoo naman ’yon, nakikita naman ng lahat ’yon,” he added.
Even Clarito himself said his actions on the court were due to the spur of the moment.
“Do-or-die game para sa amin ’yun eh, kaya medyo nagkagirian. Pero it’s part of the game — ’yung pisikal. Sa’kin, normal lang ’yun,” said Clarito, referring to his physical style of play.
“After ng game, kumustahan na kami. Ganun talaga ’yung laro eh — may nananalo, may natatalo,” he added.
