Poy Erram could still feel the sting of back-to-back PBA Philippine Cup Finals defeats to San Miguel. But the TNT big remains hopeful for the upcoming conference.
Poy Erram tried his best to stick to the positives after TNT fell prey for the second straight time to San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
After another stinging defeat, Erram has no other recourse but to make the most of the break to clear his mind before hitting the ground running for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup this March.
“Ganoon talaga. Mas magaling silang team, mas nakapag-adjust sila. Mas gutom ang players nila,” said Erram after the Tropang 5G surrendered in Game 6, 77-92, to hand the Beermen their 31st championship trophy.
“Kahit tanggalin mo si June Mar (Fajardo), magaling pa rin sila. Kahit nandiyan si June Mar, mas ipinapakita nilanf mas deserving silang manalo. Kaya sobrang sakit.”
[RELATED STORY: Finals MVP June Mar Fajardo hopes to inspire aspiring Cebuano ballers: 'Walang imposible']
It was almost the same story last conference, where the Tropang 5G had to endure a laundry list of injuries to key players, this time with RR Pogoy (hamstring) and Jayson Castro (knee) still in sick bay.
But with the two expected to rejoin the team for the upcoming import-laced conference, things are only looking up for TNT.
[RELATED STORY: Calvin Oftana hurt after another PBA Finals loss, but proud of TNT’s gallant stand]
“Siguro, we’re going to make sure we're all ready individually. And as a team, we’re all healthy and make sure na i-maximize namin 'yong time off,” Erram said.
“Pagbalik namin, ready kami kahit sinong makalaban namin. Nasa isip namin na part pa rin kami ng top teams sa PBA. Ganoon pa rin ang mentality mo kahit talo kami dito.”
The Commissioner’s Cup gets going on March 11, more than a week after Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
—
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.