It’s one thing to be aware, but it’s another to take action, and Poy Erram is doing what he can to become better — both as an athlete and as a person.
The temperamental TNT center disclosed that he’s actively seeking professional help to address personal issues further following yet another outburst that made him hog the headlines in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
“I’m seeking help,” he told reporters moments after their 87-83 victory over Ginebra in Game 6 on Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Para moving forward, hindi lang para sa team, para rin sa pamilya ko, and siyempre sa trabaho ko. Kasi if I don’t seek help, mahihirapan ako.”
Erram has thrice let emotions get the best of him in this title series, none more controversial than his spat with Tropang Giga head coach Chot Reyes back in Game 5 last Sunday, in which they eventually fell to a 73-66 result.
The 35-year-old admitted that unresolved issues — particularly the death of his father last February — have been the reason why he’s been struggling.
Erram was the one who decided to take his dad, a retired serviceman, off life support, making the burden all the heavier for him to carry.
“Since nung namatay ‘yung papa ko, I’ve been really in a hard place,” he said.
“Pero hindi ko kasi siya na-address so now, parang nagbabayad ako roon kasi lalo na sa pressure ngayon, ta’s ang daming nangyayari.”
That’s why the 12-year pro ultimately deemed it best to seek help to address the issues he’s been facing — just as he did during the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble, when he suffered panic attacks.
“Sa’kin lang, kailangan ko talaga ng tulong eh,” he said. “Hindi ko na sasabihin na, ‘Ah, lalaki ako’ — hindi, kailangan ko talaga ng tulong eh.
“I’ve been in this situation, nakatulong sa akin ‘yung last. So ngayon kailangan ko talaga moving forward for my career, if I still wanna play pa, para maliwanagan ulit ako, and then para maging OK din pamilya ko.”
Erram is still working on the details of possible sessions with a mental health professional. For now, there are his TNT brothers, his coach Chot Reyes, and, of course, his family to lean on — and make him feel he’s never by his lonesome.
All that began with him acknowledging what he needed to do, particularly when the Tropa held a meeting in the days before Game 6.
That clearly helped, with Erram delivering a noteworthy performance with 14 points and six rebounds to help his team force a deciding Game 7.
“Kailangang bumawi, kailangang manalo,” he said. “Kasi ayaw namin na ganito lang matatapos ang series, ‘di ba? Kasi alam namin, kaya naman namin manalo. And then ano lang, gusto ko talaga manalo para sa team.
“Kasi nakita niyo naman, sa mga nangyayari, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: I’ve been a distraction sa team and everybody knows it, alam naman ng lahat ng tao. Gusto ko lang talaga makabawi sa team.”
Erram has more than made up for what happened in Game 5 and that’s all thanks to him never being shy to seek help — whether it be professionally or simply through a solid support system made up of his loved ones.
“Meron talagang mga sitwasyon na hindi ko pa naaayos, kaya bigla akong pumipitik na hindi naiintindihan ng mga tao kung bakit ganon, that’s why I’m seeking help,” he said.
“And ‘di naman masama na humingi ka ng tulong eh.”
#WATCH: “KAILANGAN BUMAWI.”
Poy Erram admits he has been a distraction to TNT but made up for it with a spectacular Game 6 performance 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/GBJKNyv9vg
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 26, 2025
