Oftana erupts for 39 as TNT overcomes Rain or Shine in OT for 2-0 semis lead

Calvin Oftana erupted for 39 points as TNT overcame Rain or Shine in overtime, 113-105, in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The Tropang 5G now leads the series, 2-0.

Oftana waxed hot as he drilled five from the 3-point arc but it was his free throws that saved the day for TNT.

Trailing by three with less than a minute left, Gian Mamuyac was called for a foul on Oftana which brought the latter to the line where he sank three freebies to tie the game at 99. Mamuyac then made a basket to complete Rain or Shine's attempted comeback but the shot apparently missed the clock, forcing the game into overtime.

Kim Aurin then opened the extra period with a basket, but Jhonard Clarito quickly answered to tie the game anew. Back-to-back triples from Oftana and Kelly Williams, followed by a Poy Erram layup quickly built a 109-101 lead for the Tropang 5G with 2:22 remaining in overtime. Erram's foul on Clarito then put the latter on the line where he sank two, but Oftana hit another basket to hand TNT a 111-103 lead with around a minute remaining.

Clarito's late basket gave a glimmer of hope for the Elasto Painters, but Oftana's freebies off a Clarito foul sealed the victory for the Tropang 5G.

Before TNT's run, Rain or Shine led 41-23 in the second quarter before the first half closed, 54-52, in favor of the Elasto Painters.

For TNT head coach Chot Reyes, his players stepped up, especially with RR Pogoy out in the second half due to a groin injury.

"Whoever's there, we just want to keep fighting. We got great games from Kim Aurin, Almond Vosotros, Mike Nieto, they came up really big for us," Reyes said.

“We just refused to quit.”

This is what TNT coach Chot Reyes said about their OT win against Rain or Shine in Game 2 of the semis. @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/Mzo9e5KI5W

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) June 27, 2025

"It's just the way we do it. We just refused to quit. I think that's the most important thing. That's what this team is built on, just the refusal to give up, no matter what the odds are, no matter what the adversity is. If you don't give up, then you give yourself a chance."

Aside from his hot-shooting night, Oftana was also an asset on defense with nine boards, three blocks, and a steal. Jordan Heading had his own double-double of 13 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and two steals, while Pogoy had 11 points before he went down in the first half. Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser had nine and eight points, respectively, but grabbed 12 and 10 boards each.

Adrian Nocum had a team-high 27 points, 20 made in the second half, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Caelan Tiongson had 18 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a block. Mamuyac and Clarito, meanwhile, had 16 points apiece.

Game 3 of the semis will be played on Sunday.

Scores:

TNT 113 – Oftana 39, Heading 13, Pogoy 11, Williams 9, Ganuelas-Rosser 8, Nieto 7, Aurin 7, Vosotros 6, Erram 6, Khobuntin 4, Enciso 3.

Rain or Shine 105– Nocum 27, Tiongson 18, Mamuyac 16, Clarito 16, Santillan 7, Caracut 6, Norwood 6, Asistio 3, Ildefonso 2, Datu 2, Malonzo 2.

Quarters: 21-25, 50-52, 78-70, 99-99, 113-105.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News