ROOKIE Calvin Oftana may have yet to undergo a full practice with the entire NLEX team.
At least though, he already got to know and play in scrimmages along two of his Road Warriors teammates during his stint with the Gilas Pilipinas training pool.
The NCAA MVP out of San Beda relished the time he spent together with Kiefer Ravena and Raul Soyud as part of the national pool that trained for about a month inside the Inspire Sports Academy bubble in Calamba, Laguna.
The four-week stretch somehow allowed the 6-foot-5 forward to be familiarized with two of the NLEX veterans.
"Sobrang blessed ako with Manong (Ravena) and Kuya Raul kasi sila yung kasama ko for almost a month sa Calamba kami for Gilas. So sobrang blessed ako na makasama ko sila ulit," said Oftana.
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Ravena and Soyud were six of the PBA players invited to be part of that Gilas pool along with Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, CJ Perez, and Justine Chua as they teamed up with cadet members in preparing for the final qualifier of the FIBA Asia Cup.
The tournament however, was called off last February and rescheduled to June 16-20 also in Clark, Pampanga, forcing the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to briefly break camp and allow the players to return to their respective mother ballclubs.
Shortly after the stint, Oftana emerged as the no. 3 overall selection by NLEX in the recent rookie draft, paving the way for his reunion with Ravena and Soyud.
The 25-year-old rookie from Dumaguete City recalled being told by Ravena about the Road Warriors' move to select him in the draft during their stay in Calamba, but refused to fully believe in him not until he finally got to hear his name being called by coach Yeng Guiao.
"Sinabi ni Manong pero hindi ko alam kung seryoso siya nung sinabi niya yun," Oftana told host Carlo Pamintuan during his recent guesting in the program The Game.
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"Nung natawag na lang yung pangalan ko, yun sobrang saya ko kasi it's a dream come true for me and my family, at sa mga taong sumusuporta sa akin." (RG)
