Despite stellar Asian Games stint, Calvin Oftana to miss FIBA WCQ Malaysia window

As a baby comes his family's way, Calvin Oftana has to beg off from Gilas duties for the meantime. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

ANTIPOLO—Although he looked fine in the Asian Games and the PBA Governors' Cup, Calvin Oftana will not join Gilas Pilipinas on the trip to Seremban, Malaysia for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Gilas head coach Tim Cone said on Wednesday night that the TNT wingman was supposed to be part of the pool for the crucial games on neutral ground against Syria and Iran.

However, family matters prompted Oftana, who was arguably Gilas' consistent contributor in its short-lived Asian Games title defense in Nagoya, to withdraw his participation, according to Cone.

"Calvin has begged off. His wife is delivering at the end of the month, right during that time, so he begged off and couldn't make it. He was part of the original group to go," Cone said.

The concurrent Ginebra mentor also said that Carl Tamayo will also sit out the November window as he recovers from an ankle injury.

The Changwon forward reinjured the same left ankle that he sprained during Gilas' crucial win against Iran during the KBL club's Nov. 1 home loss against Ethan Alvano-led Wonju.

"It's worse this time," Cone further said, adding that Tamayo's road to return could be longer than the initially reported one-month timeframe as the rehabilitation will just start by December.

With two members of Gilas' "Core 12" out, the national team's perimeter guys will need to step up as floor spacers in crucial showdowns against Syria and Iran.