Recovery days

How healthy TNT will be in the deciding Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals is going to depend on how Calvin Oftana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jayson Castro can use the break to recuperate from their injuries.

The title decider against Barangay Ginebra is set Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena, with the Tropang 5G to make the call at the last-minute if the three key locals are good to go after Oftana and Ganuelas-Rosser sat out and Castro getting hurt in Game 6.

Oftana was reduced to a cheerleader on the bench due to a calf injury that has bothered him throughout the conference, while Ganuelas-Rosser also didn’t see action in Sunday’s 98-90 win after hurting his ankle during Game 5.

Before decision

Castro, meanwhile, tweaked his ankle early in the fourth quarter of Game 6 and didn’t return.

“That’s going to be a game-time decision,” said coach Chot Reyes. “Our PTs are working double-time on them.”

Reyes, however, hinted that it won’t be an easy decision.

“Calvin has a strain so that’s very hard. Brandon, I think, has a better chance because it’s an inversion, an act of sprain,” he said. “But then the problem is we might have lost Jayson again. Good thing we have one game left because we’re losing men quicker than I’m losing hair.”

Oftana’s injury has been evident in the Finals—and it could be the most worrying.

TNT is expected to seriously consider a trend in the NBA where calf strains lead to a more serious Achilles injury when return to action is rushed. Several players in the NBA who suffered Achilles tears that put them out of action for several months were said to have calf strains before that.

Clap back

Oftana has tried to keep his injury under wraps despite walking gingerly after games.

But his wife actually took to social media and clap back at fans’ claims that Oftana is faking his injury.

“I really don’t want to tell you guys [about my injury], but it’s manageable,” Oftana told reporters after Game 6. “I told them that I wanted to play [Game 6], but the coaches ultimately made the decision.”

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The Gilas Pilipinas mainstay has had an up-and-down performance in the series before his absence, scoring 31 in Game 2 but being limited to two points in Game 3.

Castro has been key for TNT in the last three games, after Reyes placed him in the starting lineup and assigned the veteran to lead the committee tasked to defend Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos.

“It’s swollen, but we will try to give it a go on Wednesday,” said Castro, brushing it off as “nothing serious.”

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