While San Miguel is a win away from a PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup title, Poy Erram is confident TNT can still drag the finale into a deciding Game 7.
Poy Erram refused to sulk after TNT’s 98-82 loss to San Miguel in Game 5 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals.
While the team’s defense was solid for the most part, the Tropang 5G big said they simply didn’t have enough firepower to keep in step begging the second period, where the Beermen started to turn the game around after an early 16-point deficit.
As such, San Miguel now leads the series 3-2 and is one win away from another All-Filipino championship.
[RELATED STORY: Rodney Brondial steps up as San Miguel nears 2nd straight PBA PH Cup title]
“Execution namin syempre (nawala). Andun yung defense namin pero yung offense namin nawala,” Erram said after the match at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“Sabi ko nga kanina end ng first half, tapos start ng second half pa down hill na kami lahat especially individually. Tinry namin makahabol, (pero) wala rin, mahirap na.”
TNT blitzed to a 23-7 start, building off a commanding Game 4 win. However, the Tropang 5G fizzled out in the succeeding quarters.
Erram, who finished with just five points, acknowledged the San Miguel bench led by Rodney Brondial and Kris Rosales as being the difference in Game 5.
“Ganda ng laro nila. Ganda ng laro ng bench nila, Rodney and Kris Rosales ganda nilaro. Hindi mo maalis sa kanila yun kasi prepared talaga sila,” he said.
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But Erram and TNT are quickly moving on to Game 6, ready to bring with them the lessons which will definitely come in handy when they try to force a deciding Game 7.
“Babawi naman kami. Babawi naan kami. Sabi nga ni coach (Chot Reyes) bawi kami sa practice tapos video, viewing kung ano pa kailangan improve,” he said.
“Kami naglaro kami ng 22 minutes lang tapos after nun wala. Kung gusto namin manalo kailangan maglaro ng at least 48 minutes.”
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad/One Sports Digital)
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.