PBA Finals: Oftana says sideline exchange with Chot Reyes ‘normal’

TNT Tropang 5G’s Calvin Oftana during Game 3 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Calvin Oftana brushed off the heated exchange between him and coach Chot Reyes during the fourth quarter of TNT’s 116-102 loss to Barangay Ginebra in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

Reyes was seen standing up and shouting some words at Oftana after the latter committed a miscue while the Tropang 5G were trying to make a late run during Sunday’s contest held before 18,000 fans at Mall of Asia Arena.

“It’s normal,” Oftana said in Filipino. “He scolded me and I know that made a crucial mistake. But I have total respect for my coach and those things are normal.”

Incidents are nothing new at the Tropang 5G, particularly in last year’s run to the Commissioner’s Cup Finals when Reyes fumed at Poy Erram during a timeout huddle.

In Oftana’s case, it was one of the lowlights of a rough evening that saw him being held to only two points on 1-of-8 shooting.

That came after Oftana fired 31 points, a season-high, in the Tropang 5G’s 101-94 victory on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“What’s good about it (incident with Reyes) is that we were able to understand what went wrong and I took full responsibility for my mistake,” he added.

As for his shooting struggles, Oftana took things for what it was after a silent night.

“Di araw-araw pasko,” he said.