By REYNALD MAGALLON
TNT star and Gilas Pilipinas forward Calvin Oftana has been ruled out in the first window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, head coach Tim Cone revealed at the end of the team’s first practice at the Blue Eagle Gym, Tuesday, Nov. 18.
The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter has been dealing with hamstring issues – an injury that also prompted the Tropang 5G to play without him in the team’s close 91-89 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Cagayan de Oro.
Oftana was actually around during the first practice but Cone revealed he just dropped by to greet the team.
“He’s already begged off, and apparently he’s gonna be out three to four weeks, which takes him past Guam,” said Cone in a story in the PBA website.
With the injury, Oftana will be joining Kai Sotto, who is still recovering from a knee injury at the sickbay.
Good thing though, Cone has a deeper pool this time with the addition of Troy Rosario, RJ Abarrientos, Juan Gomez de Liano and Quentin Millora-Brown.
Both Rosario and Abarrientos have long been added to the pool while Gomez de Liano and Millora-Brown have been recently called up to join the team.
“We’ll need to fill him with somebody. That’s why we have some extra guys here. We’ll figure out who that guy will be later on as the week progresses,” added the Cone.
Still in the pool and originally part of the 12 are June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Dwight Ramos, Jamie Malonzo, Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao.
