For most teams, playoff preparation usually revolves around scouting reports, film sessions, and tactical adjustments.
For TNT Tropang 5G, it began with something far less comfortable — honesty.
According to Calvin Oftana, TNT temporarily set basketball aside before its do-or-die clash against NLEX Road Warriors and instead confronted the issues that had quietly followed the defending champions throughout the conference.
“Nag-usap kami as a team,” Oftana revealed after TNT’s 118-112 quarterfinal victory Saturday night at the Ynares Center.
“Walang viewing, wala lahat. Instead na mag-viewing kami, nag-open forum kami kung anong problema sa amin internally.”
The conversation became especially important because it did not exclude import Bol Bol — the player around whom much of TNT’s system now revolves.
Rather than tiptoeing around frustrations, the Tropang 5G veterans addressed everything directly with the former NBA big man.
“In-open up namin kung ano ‘yung problema namin kay Bol, ano ‘yung pananaw niya sa team, kung gusto niya ba kami sa team or gusto ba namin siya sa team, mga ganung bagay,” Oftana shared.
For Oftana, what mattered most was how receptive Bol turned out to be.
“Siyempre, you need to open up yourself naman sa kanya; ang maganda kay Bol, in-accept niya as a brother. Doon kami nagkasundo lahat.”
The discussion eventually centered on one recurring theme: trust.
TNT’s local core — led by Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Jayson Castro — wanted Bol to rely more on the players around him instead of carrying the offense alone.
“Sinabi lang namin na, ‘Bol, kailangan mo ipasa rin minsan.’”
“Sinabihan talaga namin! Kasi sabi nga ni Coach (Chot Reyes), ‘You need to trust these locals,’” Oftana added with a laugh.
The timing of the breakthrough proved perfect.
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#WATCH: OPEN FORUM WITH BOL
Calvin Oftana reveals that he and the rest of TNT had a conversation with Bol Bol that changed the course of the team#ReadMore
https://t.co/NHHkpGQPrB
@justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA50 pic.twitter.com/m2d6ONwbtP
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 16, 2026
After struggling to establish chemistry during the elimination round, TNT suddenly looked far more connected in the playoffs. Bol still delivered monster numbers with 35 points and 13 rebounds in the knockout win, but the locals thrived alongside him instead of simply orbiting around his talent.
Pogoy finished with 21 points, Oftana added 20 markers of his own, while Castro continued stabilizing the offense with veteran poise.
More than the statistics, however, Oftana believes TNT finally discovered the balance it had been searching for all conference long.
“We started rough sa conference na ‘to and right now, we’re looking good in our own way, na nakukuha na namin ‘yung rhythm namin with Bol. And Bol is looking pretty good surrounded by us,” he said.
Oftana admitted the team also feels motivated to maximize what may be a short-lived partnership with one of the most talented imports to ever enter the league.
“Siyempre motivated kami; siyempre ayaw naming umalis agad si Bol na ganito lang. And kami rin naman.”
Now heading into the semifinals against Meralco Bolts, TNT suddenly appears more dangerous not because its stars changed individually, but because the defending champions finally started functioning like one complete unit.
“It’s up to us na mga locals na to help him up, para makayod namin ‘tong semifinals to the Finals,” Oftana said.
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