Calvin Oftana fills last Gilas Pilipinas roster spot in Asian Games

Calvin Oftana in action against New Zealand in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

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MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas will field a 12-man squad for its defense of the Asian Games gold after all.

Coach Tim Cone on Wednesday confirmed the inclusion of Calvin Oftana for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, where he will fill the slot previously reserved for Justin Brownlee.

Cone said Oftana is due to arrive in Japan as of posting time.

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“We hope he arrives in time to make our practice schedule today,” Cone said.

Oftana will be making his first Gilas appearance since the second window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers in February.

He has missed the last two windows of the Asian Qualifiers due to injuries to his hamstring and toe.

READ: Gilas ready to go with 11 players if Brownlee misses Asian Games

The TNT star takes the place of Brownlee, who has been ruled out for the Asiad despite hopes that he may return after missing the fourth window of the Fiba qualification.

Cone initially said Gilas would be fine with an 11-man roster, but an additional body suddeniy became a necessity, especially after getting swept badly by South Korea in a two-game exhibition in Suwon over the weekend.

Oftana comes in two days before Gilas opens its Asiad campaign against Bahrain.