Gilas Pilipinas celebrate its win over Saudi Arabia in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Sidelined with an ankle injury, Gilas Pilipinas forward Calvin Oftana can only do so much for the Philippine squad.
For one, he can support the squad from the sidelines. For another, he can help lift the team’s chemistry and morale.
He’s doing that second task in the most witty and lighthearted way possible.
CJ Perez, who joined Oftana on Gilas’ injured-reserve list after getting hurt against Saudi Arabia, became the brunt of Oftana’s joke ahead of the team’s quarterfinal clash with Australia.
Screenshot of CJ Perez’s repost of Calvin Oftana’s Instagram Story
“Nilagay ko na din ‘yong roommate ko. ‘Di na din makalakad eh, (Let me put my teammate here since he can’t walk too),” wrote Oftana in an Instagram story, inserting Perez into Gilas’ celebratory picture after their 95-88 win over Saudi Arabia in overtime.
Perez suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter of Tuesday morning’s game against the hosts.
Oftana, meanwhile, re-aggravated his ankle injury from the PBA Finals during Gilas’ game against Iraq over the weekend.
Both swingmen are out for Gilas’ quarterfinal matchup against Australia later on Wednesday.
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