For Blackwater Elite’s top big man Poy Erram, their 76-101 defeat into the hands of the GlobalPort Batang Pier on Friday night at the Cuneta Astrodome was a result of the team resorting to playing as individuals rather than as a single unit.
Erram himself nearly finished with a triple double of eight points, seven rebounds, and seven blocks, but his efforts were in vain, as the Elite never had a chance to show their brand of basketball from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
“‘Di namin sinunod si coach. Nagkanya-kanya kami. Simula pa lang, nakita naman talaga na nagkanya-kanya kami,” lamented the 28-year-old moments after the lopsided affair.
“‘Di namin ginawa yung sistema ni coach.”
And it also didn’t help that Erram failed to display his best form, no thanks to an ankle sprain, which he incurred late in the opening frame.
“Nilalaro ko lang buong game. Actually masakit talaga, namamaga talaga siya,” added the 6-foot-7 big man.
“Kasi kung di ako maglalaro, walang ibang maglalaro (center spot), so pinilit ko na lang talaga.”
The Elite have now fallen to their second straight loss after their huge 94-77 triumph over Ginebra last week. And this skid is something they regret, as they feel like they have failed to prove that their win against the Gin Kings was no fluke.
“May chance na kami eh, pinakawalan pa namin. Sobrang sayang,” said the four-year pro out of Ateneo de Manila. “Yung mga players sobrang down (tonight) kasi inexpect namin lalaban kami, tapos tinambakan kami ng sobra.”
Blackwater played their second game in three days after asking for a schedule revision to give way to their Hope for Lupus Run this Sunday. But Erram does not want to make the exhausting string of games as an excuse.
“Medyo naging factor din na in one week tatlong games kami. Tapos puro malalakas pa kalaban namin. Pero di yun excuse for us,” said Erram, who is averaging 13.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks this conference.
“Dapat ready kami kahit sino kalaban namin.”
