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