Poy Erram has his sights set on the holiday break ahead as he plans to maximize the downtime to rest and recover after a scary fall on Thursday night.
The TNT big man slammed back-first onto hardwood as he was stopped mid-air while attempting for a layup at the 4:03-mark of the third quarter during their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup encounter against Blackwater.
He had to be carried on the way to the bench never to be brought back into the game, but the Tropang Giga managed to come away with the 109-93 victory.
“Buti na lang mahaba ang pahinga,” he said. “Papahinga kami two days, balik kami 22, 23, 24. At least makakapagpahinga pa, ta’s makakapag-rehab pa.”
Erram spoke to reporters after coming out of the team’s dugout at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, limping as he was still in pain after the incident.
“Hirap talaga ako ngayon maglakad,” he said. “‘Yung bigat nasa right lang, kasi pag nasa left di ko na kaya e. Tsaka kailangan laging naka-contract yung puwet ko. Kasi ‘pag ‘di naka-contract yung puwet ko, mahirapan ako maglakad.
“May spasm pa rin dito sa buto sa may taas,” he added, pointing to his lower back while describing the injury. “So medyo masakit pa rin ‘to. Tsaka ‘pag may konting force, may konting bigat, masakit talaga siya.”
His lower back had hit the ground first and gave a loud thud, the reason why he struggled to get back up and needed some assistance to the bench.
“Nung una parang feeling ko – kasi hindi ko magalaw eh. Numb talaga rito, ta’s hindi ko magalaw. Kaya nagpabuhat na ‘ko,” said Erram, who left the game with four points and three rebounds in under 10 minutes of play.
But the 35-year-old allayed fears of any major injury as he felt no crack or pop whatsoever on his hurting back, and will only need to rest and rehab.
After playing Blackwater, TNT won’t play until January 7 versus Meralco at the Philsports Arena, which should be ample time for him to recover.
“Pahinga lang naman ‘to,” he said. “Kasi wala namang nag-crack. Wala naman ako naramdaman na nag-crack, nag-pop kanina. Okay lang, pahinga lang.”
