CHICAGO - When TNT called timeout at the 7:28 mark of the third quarter of last night's Game Five of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, the Tropang Giga were still ahead 47-43.
But that fateful huddle was the kiss of death.
Instead of devising plans to arrest Ginebra's 8-2 spurt that induced the timeout, the players and coaching staff got busy pacifying Chot Reyes and Poy Erram.
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By the time the Tropang Giga re-entered the floor, their energy had been sapped, their spirits broken, and whatever modicum of good team vibes were left had departed the Araneta Coliseum.
Ginebra presents enough external conflict, a clear and present danger. And TNT is making its problems worse by manufacturing its own internal conflict.
I'm all in for positive disputes in the name of competitive fire and love for the game. But when throwing towels and surrendering clipboards enter the picture, brotherly shove gives way to dangerous confrontations.
THREE TANTRUMS ARE THREE TOO MANY.
And given that this is the third Erram eruption, one in the semis and two in these Finals, the problem can longer be deemed a hiccup. This is full-blown bronchitis that imperils the entire team.
The quick, easy solution is to bench Poy and remove the source of the problem.
But taking the Cagayan native out is detrimental to TNT's cause.
Erram is 6-foot-8 and 237 lbs. His length and veteran experience are paramount against Ginebra's tall lineup spearheaded by Japeth Aguilar, a 38-year-old warrior who's aging like fine wine.
But Erram isn't indispensable, either. The former Ateneo center is averaging only 5.8 points in 4.6 rebounds while playing an average of 20 minutes and 16 seconds in five Finals games. He isn't exactly the sole solution to TNT's scoring issues..
Battle-tested Barkley Ebona and former UP star Henry Galinato are live, serviceable bodies that TNT can tap in lieu of Erram. Not to mention veteran Kelly Williams.
Ultimately, it boils down to what coach Chot wants.
He can win with his 35-year-old big but risk doing so with elevated stress levels and hikes in his blood pressure. Or Reyes can lose without Erram but minus the mental torture.
RHJ INJURED?
As reported by Gerry Ramos of SPIN.ph, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is allegedly dealing with a pulled hamstring which potentially was the cause of his horrific shooting woes in Games Four and Five.
I don't doubt the injury, but it couldn't be severe given that RHJ looked okay hoisting a combined 44 field goals, making only 12, in TNT's two-game Finals skid.
If the former NBA player is really hurt and the hammy is affecting his balance, then why shoot so much instead of being largely a facilitator, a role he was born to play?
The root of RHJ's struggle is mainly Stephen Holt.
The Fil-Am from Portland has done a terrific job staying in front of RHJ and forcing him into difficult shots.
So, here's my take on the RHJ injury. He was in uniform, and he played all but 58 seconds of the 48-minute contest. He was good to go and all this talk about aches and pains belongs in the trash bin.
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