Published September 29, 2025 7:38pm
Updated September 29, 2025 7:38pm
NCAA Season 100. Wilmar Oftana of the EAC Generals. Photo: Vyn Radovan
Wilmar Oftana’s father never saw him play basketball, but his memory continues to fuel the veteran Emilio Aguinaldo College wing as he prepares to embrace a much bigger role for the Generals in NCAA Season 101.
Oftana shared that his father, Jerry, was no longer around to watch his games when he began playing the sport, as his dad passed away while he was still in high school.
But he has been trying to honor him every game, carrying his memory as motivation to play harder.
“Nu’ng nasa Beda high school ako, patay na ‘yung tatay ko. Na-stroke siya, malala na rin sakit niya nu’ng time na ‘yun. 15 lang ako no’n,” Oftana told GMA News Online during the media day.
“Hindi niya pa ako napanood maglaro ng basketball. Siya rin ‘yung inspiration ko rin dito sa basketball.”
(When I was in Beda high school, my dad was already gone. He had a stroke and he was already very sick at that time. I was only 15 then… He never got to watch me play basketball. He’s also my inspiration here in basketball.)
Oftana was raised by his father to live a simple life, as the elder Oftana worked as a fisherman in Sarangani province. Growing up, Wilmar hardly knew anything about the basketball world since they didn’t even have a television to watch the NBA or PBA.
But his father also taught him to dream bigger.
That’s why when given an opportunity to play for the San Beda Red Cubs in the NCAA juniors basketball tournament, the younger Oftana took a risk and flew miles away from home to fulfill his basketball dreams.
“Doon [sa probinsya] simple lang, simpleng pamumuhay lang. ‘Pag marunong ka lang magsipag, mabubuhay ka,” he added.
“Pero ayun, may dumating kasi na chance na maglaro sa Manila kaya pinursue ko na rin.”
(In the province, it’s simple. The way of life is simple. If you know how to work hard, you will survive… But there was a chance to play in Manila, so I pursued it.)
After his high school stint with the Red Cubs, Oftana went to Arellano University and suited up for the Chiefs for a year in Season 98 before opting to transfer to EAC.
Last year, the 6-foot-3 wingman emerged as the third leading scorer for the Generals after posting 7.56 points, 5.17 rebounds, 1.17 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.78 blocks to help the school achieve a decent 9-9 win-loss finish.
Still, Oftana isn’t satisfied and he’s gunning to help bring EAC to the Final Four for the first time ever.
“Nasasanay naman na ako sa pagiging leader kasi pinu-push ko sila na gawin ‘yung best nila at ‘wag mahiyang ipakita ‘yung galing nila sa loob ng court,” he said.
“Ngayon, kulang na lang sa star ‘yung team. Wala kaming star e. Ngayon, ‘yung chemistry tulungan talaga, ‘yung bola umiikot.”
(I’m getting used to being a leader because I push my teammates to do their best and not to be shy to show what they can do inside the court… This year, we’re short a star on the team. We don’t have a star. It’s the chemistry, us helping each other, the ball is shared.)
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
