The third overall pick Oftana registered eight three’ s, breaking Caidic’s record who logged seven threes by a rookie in a PBA game under the banner of Great Taste back in 1987.

Overall, the Dumaguete forward bolstered 34 points for the Road Warriors and stretched the lead after halftime 65-64 with 20 points gap, 85-65.

Yet Meralco retaliated and clinched the win with Allein Maliksi leading with 22 points, followed by Alvin Pasaol with 17 points, and Mac Belo with 16 points.

NLEX is now sitting on a loss-win 5-6 record set to battle for the sixth seed where they either face no. 3 Magnolia Pambansang Manok in a best-of-three series or no. 2 Meralco in a twice-to-win situation in the quarterfinals.

Oftana finished the elimination round averaging 9.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 11 games in which former Rookie of the Year, Chris Newsome acknowledged the former NCAA MVP.

“Oftana got unlimited potential,” Newsome tweeted.