When Henry Walker first played for the Blackwater Elite during the 2017 Governors’ Cup, the young franchise was full of hope, especially after making a good account of themselves during the tournament.
A year later, 30-year-old American reinforcement is watching a different team. Gone are the laughs and the hugs. All he is seeing right now are dropped heads and lack of hope.
“I just think that we are not coming around. I just think that they got to better believe in themselves [and] what they can do because they’ve actually seen it during the process,” Walker shared after Blackwater’s 89-93 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors — their seventh loss of the season.
And as the losses pile up, the frustrations are starting to pile on.
With eight minutes still remaining in the third frame, a frustrated Poy Erram headed to the Blackwater bench visibly irate.
“Frustration lang kasi siyempre, gusto naming manalo. Down kami 0-7 na so parang frustrated lang talaga na gusto kong manalo,” shared Erram.
The fourth-year pro bounced back in the final frame, scoring eight of his 14 markers in that span while gobbling 11 rebounds. However, it all went for naught.
That is why after the game, Walker — who went just 2-of-15 from the field for 12 points in his return — immediately went to Erram.
“Listen man, I see so much of myself in Poy — his demeanor and his passion.
“I had to tell him like, ‘Man, I’ve been there!’ It’s my fourth time here, you got to focus on what’s between the lines. If he does that, he’s going to be a different player. We need him to be focused because he is the anchor of our team,” shared Walker, the 47th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Erram knows his value to the team and that he can’t get out of line.
“After nun, ‘di ko na pinatagal, nag-apologize din ako kina coach dun mismo sa game kasi out of line na ginawa ko. Thankful din ako na sinuportahan nila ako and nakalaro pa rin ako nang maayos,” expressed Erram.
“In terms of passion, sobrang passionate ko talaga. Ever since, alam niyo naman storya ko, gusto ko lang talaga maglaro, gusto ko lang i-prove sa mga tao na I really can play. Ayoko lang matalo. Kasi nandun na e. ‘Yun nga, part ng game, kasalanan ko kung ano nangyari sa team kaya kami natalo. Sa’kin yun,” he added.
“For me, walang kasalanan teammates ko, kasalanan ko yun kasi pinabayaan ko mawala yung sarili ko and naging selfish ako.”
