Poy Erram has come full circle as he won his first PBA championship with the very same team that took a chance on him some eight years ago.
The 6-foot-8 slotman finally experienced glory in the pro ranks when TNT ruled the 2021 Philippine Cup following a 94-79 rout of Magnolia in Game Five of the Finals, Friday evening at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
“Sobrang sweet,” expressed the 32-year-old.
“Sobrang blessed ko na nakuha ko unang championship ko sa team na nag-draft sa akin.”
Erram was the flagship MVP franchise’s 15th overall selection in the 2013 Rookie Draft. But it wasn’t until 2014 that he would get his first regular gig, as he was only a practice player for the loaded Texters for 10 long months.
He signed with Blackwater and played there until 2017. And that became the break he needed, as he emerged as one of the league’s top big men with the Elite before a trade to NLEX prior to the 2018 season.
His stay with the Road Warriors, though, lasted for only a couple of seasons. They shipped him back to TNT in February of last year.
For the proud ball club, the former Defensive Player of the Year was like an answered prayer as he addressed their need for a legit five. And he proved as much when he helped them reach the Clark bubble finals last year.
They lost to Barangay Ginebra in five games, however. Thus, the elation he and the Tropang Giga felt to have atoned for that heartbreak.
This win also gave the organization its first title since the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup.
Erram couldn’t help but become sentimental as he looked back on his humble beginnings on the way to calling himself a PBA champion.
Photo by PBA Images
“Sobrang nakakaiyak din kasi unang championship ko. And looking back, I’m totally a nobody,” said the Cagayan de Oro native.
“From college, to the pros, ‘di ako kilala,” added the Ateneo de Manila product.
“I worked my ass off every day just to be here, just to be with these guys.”
He also relayed his sincere gratitude to the head coach Chot Reyes and TNT veterans such as Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, and Kelly Williams for helping him remain grounded when the going gets tough.
Photo by PBA Images
“Alam niyo naman ako, from the past, emotional ako eh,” Erram said. “Pero ngayon, ‘pag nalalaman nila na nag-aact up na naman ‘yung emosyon ko, andyan sila to guide me – professionally, on and off the court.
“Si Coach Chot din, ganun. Start pa lang nung training camp namin, kinakausap na niya kami – ano bang gusto mo, ano bang kailangan mo para ‘di kami mahirapan sa’yo,” the former Mythical Team member added.
Well, that was evident in this conference. More relaxed, Erram averaged 9.4 points on 47.3 shooting, along with 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in the tilt.
He made some of his best showings in the semifinals versus San Miguel. He posted norms of 12.7 markers and 7.0 boards, highlighted by impressive back-to-back double-doubles early in the best-of-seven battle.
Erram had 20 points and 10 rebounds in Game Two, before collecting 21 and 13 the following game. And, yes, he performed against none other than the reigning six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.
According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, the former Gilas Pilipinas big man has nine 20-point career games. Five of them were against the ‘Kraken’ and the Beermen, including two in the semis that went the distance.
“Sobrang blessed ako na nandyan sila, lalo na ‘yung mga veterans ko – sina kuya Jayson, kuya Ryan, kuya Kelly, Coach. All throughout this conference, all throughout this season, nandyan sila,” Erram said.
“‘Pag nakikita nilang nahihirapan na naman utak ko, andyan sila to guide me, para bumalik ‘yung dati kong laro.”
