Calvin Oftana’s participation in the FIBA Asia Cup is in doubt due to injuries sustained in the PBA finals

TNT Tropang Giga’s star forward Calvin Oftana is unlikely to participate in the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup for Gilas Pilipinas due to ankle injuries he sustained during the recently concluded PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Oftana injured both ankles in Game 4 of the finals between TNT and the San Miguel Beermen—twisting his left ankle in the first period, and then injuring his right in the fourth quarter after stepping on Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood.

The 29-year-old missed Gilas’ tune-up game against the Macau Black Bears at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Monday, July 28, which the team eventually won, 103–98. He was pictured sitting on the bench alongside fellow forward June Mar Fajardo.

Gilas head coach Tim Cone confirmed to the media that Oftana might not make the final roster as he continues to deal with multiple injuries.

“We are not sure about Calvin. The medical reports are that he might be out a little bit longer, so far as we’ve been told. We were given a medical report from his camp. We’re not sure if he is going to be available for the whole tournament. We’re going to address that today or tomorrow,” Cone said.

POINT OF CONCERN ON THE GILAS FRONT

Coach Tim Cone bares the possibility of not having Calvin Oftana for the 2025 Asia Cup.

June Mar Fajardo, however, will train with the National team before their tune-up against Jordan. Both cagers didn’t play tonight. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/DPeTaKe3hx

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 28, 2025

In addition to his ankle injuries, it was later revealed that Oftana also suffered calf and groin strains. Despite this, he played through the pain during the finals series, averaging 15.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while logging nearly 40 minutes on the court each night.

His status for the final roster in Jeddah remains uncertain, with Cone offering no confirmation.

“We are still working that out. I don’t want to preempt anything at this point. That’s something we need to talk to him about, talk to the MVP group about, and see exactly how he’s feeling. At this point, I would say it’s 50–50,” he added.

If Oftana is ruled out, Gilas has capable replacements in Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos, both of whom have been practicing with the national team and are part of the initial “long list” submitted by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to FIBA.

There is also some good news for Gilas, as eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo is set to begin training soon. He was given time off to recover after the Philippine Cup finals. Fajardo had been nursing a calf injury during the finals but still led San Miguel to the title, averaging 21.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game while playing around 37 minutes per contest.

“But June Mar, we expect him to start practicing when we land in Jeddah. He is going to take two or three days off from doing any physical activity, and we expect him to start practicing when we arrive, which will be the 31st. We also expect him to play in the friendly against Jordan,” Cone concluded.

Gilas Pilipinas is scheduled to fly to Jeddah on Wednesday, July 30, and will face Jordan in a friendly on Saturday, August 2. They have been drawn into Group D of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, alongside Iraq, New Zealand, and Chinese Taipei. Gilas will open their campaign against Chinese Taipei on August 6.

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