Cone says Oftana reminds him of a young Duremdes

Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Calvin Oftana of Gilas Pilipinas in action against the Changwon LG Sakers in a tune-up game on September 22, 2023 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig as part of preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. Gilas took home the win, 86-81. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/09/24/20230922-gilas-vs-sg-sakers-mt-12.jpg' ><figcaption>Calvin Oftana of Gilas Pilipinas in action against the Changwon LG Sakers in a tune-up game on September 22, 2023 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig as part of preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. Gilas took home the win, 86-81. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Interim Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone was impressed by Calvin Oftana's performance against the Changwon LG Sakers during their tune-up last Friday.</p><p>Cone said the 6-foot-5 forward quickly adapted to the system they are enforcing for the upcoming Asian Games and was able to perform well against the visiting team.</p><p>Oftana fired 13 points and brought down 11 rebounds, while dishing out two assists in 21 minutes of play, helping Gilas win against Changwon, 86-81.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/22/23/gilas-outlasts-lg-sakers-in-tuneup-ahead-of-asiad'>Gilas outlasts LG Sakers in tuneup ahead of Asiad</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/22/23/brownlee-is-like-our-kodigo-says-gilas-coach-tim-cone'>Brownlee is like our 'kodigo,' says Gilas coach Tim Cone</a></li></ul><p>Cone said Oftana’s performance reminded him of a player he coached back when he was part of the Alaska Grand Slam squad in the 90s.</p><p>“Calvin might be a lot like Kenneth Duremdes,” said Cone. “When we played Kenneth in the old days, he stepped in and looked great from Day 1.”</p><p>“He won the MVP the year we traded for him. So Calvin has that same kind of feel (for the triangle).”</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/14/23/pogoy-parks-oftana-return-to-gilas-team-practice'>Pogoy, Parks, Oftana return to Gilas team practice</a></li></ul><p>Cone is confident that Oftana will be a valuable asset when they compete in the Asian Games starting next Tuesday.</p><p>He also praised CJ Perez for his performance, as Perez scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds, and contributed two assists in the game against Changwon.</p><p>“(Perez) got a natural feel for what we’re doing, him and Calvin Oftana. They have a natural feel on what we’re running, the triangle,” he said.</p><p><br/><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yZfkAJMrgK0?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/22/23/gilas-outlasts-lg-sakers-in-tuneup-ahead-of-asiad'>Gilas outlasts LG Sakers in tuneup ahead of Asiad</a></li>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/22/23/brownlee-is-like-our-kodigo-says-gilas-coach-tim-cone'>Brownlee is like our 'kodigo,' says Gilas coach Tim Cone</a></li></ul><p>Cone said Oftana’s performance reminded him of a player he coached back when he was part of the Alaska Grand Slam squad in the 90s.</p><p>“Calvin might be a lot like Kenneth Duremdes,” said Cone. “When we played Kenneth in the old days, he stepped in and looked great from Day 1.”</p><p>“He won the MVP the year we traded for him. So Calvin has that same kind of feel (for the triangle).”</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/14/23/pogoy-parks-oftana-return-to-gilas-team-practice'>Pogoy, Parks, Oftana return to Gilas team practice</a></li></ul><p>Cone is confident that Oftana will be a valuable asset when they compete in the Asian Games starting next Tuesday.</p><p>He also praised CJ Perez for his performance, as Perez scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds, and contributed two assists in the game against Changwon.</p><p>“(Perez) got a natural feel for what we’re doing, him and Calvin Oftana. They have a natural feel on what we’re running, the triangle,” he said.</p><p><br><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yZfkAJMrgK0?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more News on <a href='https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news' target='_blank'>iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>Cone said the 6-foot-5 forward quickly adapted to the system they are enforcing for the upcoming Asian Games and was able to perform well against the visiting team.</p><p>Oftana fired 13 points and brought down 11 rebounds, while dishing out two assists in 21 minutes of play, helping Gilas win against Changwon, 86-81.</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Calvin Oftana of Gilas Pilipinas in action against the Changwon LG Sakers in a tune-up game on September 22, 2023 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig as part of preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. Gilas took home the win, 86-81. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/09/24/20230922-gilas-vs-sg-sakers-mt-12.jpg' ><figcaption>Calvin Oftana of Gilas Pilipinas in action against the Changwon LG Sakers in a tune-up game on September 22, 2023 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig as part of preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. Gilas took home the win, 86-81. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Interim Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone was impressed by Calvin Oftana's performance against the Changwon LG Sakers during their tune-up last Friday.</p>

Tim Cone was impressed by Calvin Oftana's performance against the Changwon LG Sakers during their tune-up last Friday.

Cone says Oftana reminds him of a young Duremdes | ABS-CBN News

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Cone says Oftana reminds him of a young Duremdes

Cone says Oftana reminds him of a young Duremdes