Gilas Pilipinas has ruled Poy Erram out of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup after the 6-foot-7 big man has decided to have a nagging injury treated.
This development was confirmed by Gilas head coach Chot Reyes on Thursday’s episode of the CNN Sportsdesk.
“Poy Erram has had knee issues. MRI showed that he has impediments and material in his right knee,” said Reyes.
“Poy has decided to take that taken cared off and scraped.”
Erram was an integral part of Gilas during this cycle, playing in seven games from the Asia Cup Qualifiers up to the Asian Qualifiers of the global meet.
He played his best during the Asia Cup proper when he averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in five games played.
Erram’s injury further dropped Gilas’ initial 21-man pool down to 16.
Carl Tamayo was the first to beg off. Jordan Heading was not able to arrive as well due to a back injury he sustained during the B.League playoffs.
With Jordan Clarkson already assured of a slot, it crossed out Angelo Kouame and Justin Brownlee as well.
Reyes is confident that AJ Edu will be an apt replacement for Erram.
“Anyway, AJ Edu is fully healthy and it appears that he is close to a hundred-percent,” he said.
Other big men in the Gilas pool are Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, and sometimes-fours Calvin Oftana and Jamie Malonzo.
“I hope you appreciate the commitment of these guys. That’s the kind of commitment the pool has shown,” he said.
“Right now, as difficult as our practices are, the guys in our pool know that they have to continue putting in the work even without the assurance of being named in the final 12.”
