Glenn Khobuntin admitted that he felt surprised with Poy Erram’s actions that led to a heated spat during TNT’s eventual defeat to Rain or Shine in Game 3 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, Sunday night.
“Siyempre, tao lang din naman tayo,” the seasoned forward told reporters moments after their 103-98 defeat at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Khobuntin found himself in a shouting match with his good pal just as the second quarter was about to end, with the Tropang Giga behind, 41-49.
It happened with 18 seconds left to play while the NU product was helping pacify Erram, who was infuriated by the referees’ apparent non-call.
The emotional big man was giving one of the officials an earful, airing his displeasure about the holding fouls he felt they’d been missing.
“Hindi siya tinatawagan ng foul. Parang ayun ‘yung feeling niya eh, masyadong maraming hawak sa kanya, hindi napapansin ng ref,” Khobuntin offered. “Siyempre, halo-halo na ‘yung emosyon.”
So angry was the 35-year-old that TNT assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga and some of his teammates were trying to calm him down.
Then came Khobuntin with the intention to help out, but Erram didn’t appreciate the gesture as the former inadvertently grabbed his jersey while talking to him, leading to the verbal exchange that stunned those inside the Big Dome.
“Sabi ko kasi, tama na, kasi baka ma-dalawang technical pa eh, sobrang importante sa game nung tao eh. ‘Yun lang naman,” the NU product explained.
Nothing untoward took place between the two as cooler heads prevailed, and still went on to play as if nothing happened.
As ugly as that incident was, Khobuntin said that all is well between him and his fellow Cagayan de Oro native, adding that he understands Erram as well.
“Kasi high emotions eh. Kasi una, ampangit ng laro namin. Friendly fire lang naman ‘yun,” he said. “Sobrang tagal ko nang kilala si Poy, wala ‘yun.”
Erram respectfully declined to grant interviews to the press.
#WATCH: Glenn Khobuntin shares his thoughts on his on-court spat with good friend and teammate Poy Erram during Game 3 of the #PBA2025 semifinals 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/XQNYi1BD0e
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 2, 2025
