Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
(C) PBA Images

Basketball

Poy Erram grateful to PBA for swift action in policing fans


Poy Erram is thankful for the PBA’s fast action following a heckling incident that drew his ire during Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals last Friday.

The league added extra personnel at the stands during Game 4 on Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum to better police fan behavior, its response after the TNT big man called for better player protection.

“Gusto ko lang din magpasalamat sa PBA kasi after game, gumawa sila ng paraan para maprotektahan hindi lang ako, siyempre lahat ng player,” he said moments after their 116-104 win over Ginebra to tie the series at 2-2.

Erram broke into tears after the Tropang Giga’s 117-103 Game 3 loss as he felt offended by a heckler’s unsavory remarks directed to his mother.

The outspoken slotman would later disclose that his mom had actually suffered a stroke and is still recovering in the United States.

Since that night, he’d received messages of support not just from TNT fans and netizens but from his fellow players as well, said the 10-year vet.

“Ang laking tulong din na they have my back kahit na kalaban ko sila,” Erram said. “Laking tulong din para sa liga, na maprotektahan yung player. Kasi ‘yun nga, may feelings din naman ‘yung mga player.”

With the league’s response, Erram hopes to focus more on the game as he seeks to be of service to a team out to win its first title since 2021.

And it looks like he’s on the right track. Game 4 saw him tally eight rebounds on top of his two points and two assists in nearly 32 minutes, and he also showed improved foul management as he only got whistled thrice.

#ReadMore  PBA Board donates PHP 1M for purchase of PPE for frontliners

“Kailangan ko lang talaga maging kalmado, work on myself para makatulong. So kung kalmado ako, lagi ako nasa loob, di ako nafo-foul trouble, wala akong ibang ginagawang masama, so malaking tulong ‘yun,” he said.

“Ang bigger goal is to win a championship. If ever may mangyaring ganon, ‘pag may narinig pang ganun, sila [PBA] na ‘yung bahala. Hindi ko na kailangang isipin ‘yun ngayon going [forward] sa series na ‘to.”

The 2023 PBA Governors Cup Finals is live-streamed on SMART Sports.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

No charges will be filed, but the SM Mall of Asia Arena management will hold those responsible accountable for the damages caused following Ginebra’s...

Basketball

So heated was Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals Sunday night that the TNT dugout inside Mall of Asia Arena...

Basketball

Ginebra pulled all the necessary stops in the endgame to hack out the pulsating 71-70 decision and even things out with TNT in the...

Basketball

It may just be a simple reminder from his ‘kuya,’ but Roger Pogoy took it to heart and made sure to relay as much...

ADMU

Save for UAAP Season 84, it had been over a decade since a student-athlete from the league declared for a professional league draft while...

Basketball

Roger Pogoy got to familiarize himself with the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay ahead of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals...

Basketball

TNT leaned on its hot shooting from beyond the arc early to beat Barangay Ginebra, 95-89, and gain the head start in the PBA...

Basketball

To say that their careers are forever intertwined may sound cliche, but that’s basically been the reality Tim Cone and Chot Reyes live in....

Advertisement