Without Poy Erram, TNT slid further down a 1-2 hole in their best-of-seven PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals clash with San Miguel.
Poy Erram was present at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night, July 18, but did not see action in TNT's 88-108 loss to San Miguel in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals.
Erram wore an air cast to support his right ankle, which he sprained in the third quarter of Game 2, which the Tropang 5G also lost, 92-98, just two days earlier.
TNT coach Chot Reyes did not seem optimistic when asked for a timeline on Erram’s comeback.
“It’s a high ankle sprain. It’s a severe sprain, so we don’t know if he can comeback,” said Reyes.
[RELATED STORY: Huge blow for TNT as Poy Erram hurts right ankle in Game 2 of PBA Finals vs San Miguel]
The Tropang 5G definitely felt the big man’s absence, which allowed June Mar Fajardo to dominate. The Kraken produced 33 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
With one less person manning the post to worry about, the Beermen outscored TNT inside the paint, 48-28.
Poy Erram hurt his right ankle early in the third quarter of Game 2 Wednesday, July 16. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Reyes said the 6-foot-7 Erram could have made a difference for a frontcourt that had Kelly Williams, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Henry Galinato taking turns in guarding eight-time Most Valuable Player Fajardo.
“June Mar had 33 points because we had nobody to match up [against him] aside from Kelly. That was really very big for us,” Reyes said.
[RELATED STORY: San Miguel ace June Mar Fajardo goes berserk vs Poy Erram-less TNT in Game 3 of PBA Finals]
But as the Tropang 5G have done all season long, they have no other recourse but to soldier on and make do with the firepower they have left.
“We just take it as it is. We have to find a way. We told our players to just keep fighting,” Reyes said.