DID Jojo Lastimosa have a hand in TNT sending big man Poy Erram back late in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra?
It appears that way.
The TNT team manager and PBA great left his ringside seat early in the fourth quarter, approached deputy coach Josh Reyes, and was seen whispering something to the former Batang Gilas mentor.
LOOK: Wall damaged in TNT dugout after Game 2 loss to Ginebra
Shortly after, Reyes went over to fellow assistant Sandy Arespacochaga and head coach Chot Reyes and could have relayed what Lastimosa just told him.
Minutes later, Erram was called from the bench and went to the scorer’s table to replace Kelly Williams as the Tropang Giga were staring at an eight-point deficit at the 7:03 mark of the final quarter.
The Tropang Giga made headway from there and even took a three-point lead, 70-67, on two free throws by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with 2:30 left in the game.
But TNT never scored again after that as the Kings' Justin Brownlee provided the heroics to stop the Tropang Giga from stealing the game, 71-70.
Earlier, the 35-year-old Erram appeared not to agree with the foul called on him while guarding Brownlee. The incident happened just seconds after the TNT big man missed a layup and claimed he was fouled by Brownlee.
Reyes then called a timeout and apparently told Erram about the harmless foul against the Ginebra import. The lecture obviously did not sit well with the TNT star. He didn’t join the huddle and walked towards the TNT dugout, kicking the TNT cart and jag of water along the way.
Teammates Brian Heruela and Barkley Ebona followed the former Ateneo stalwart to the to the locker room to try to cool him down. Erram was apparently pissed by the referee's call and also by Coach Reyes' admonition.
READ: Erram in yet another outburst in Game Two vs Ginebra
The big man returned to the TNT bench just before the third quarter ended, but remained seated until Lastimosa came over.
Ginebra fans seemed to have observed the exchange between the coaches and Erram and shortly after Erram fouled Brownlee, the fans taunted the TNT player with chants of 'Iyakin, iyakin.'
Erram returned the favor by mockingly putting his right hand on his eye as if he was wiping away tears, while sticking his tonque out.
He then raised both his arms as if encouraging the Ginebra crowd to keep on mocking him while walking toward the TNT bench. - Gerry Ramos
TNT left dugout broken ... and dirty
The exasperation inside the TNT camp after losing a close game against Barangay Ginebra last Sunday must have been so intense that an unidentified member of the entourage vented his ire on one of the walls of the locker room, breaking it and may likely cost the team a small amount to pay for the damage.
No one from TNT has come forward to take responsibility, although fingers point to big man Poy Erram, but it showed how badly the team had taken the 71-70 loss to Barangay Ginebra which could have given them a 2-0 lead in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals.
Getting frustrated is normal for a team after losing a close, winnable game and fans may forgive the players for losing their cool.
This is because there's so much blame to throw around, such as the blunders committed by TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the missed opportunities in the dying minutes of the game where TNT led by by three, 70-67, with 2:30 left.
Their heads bowed and their insides seething, one player reportedly kicked or punched the wall while inside the locker room. No one knows if the damage was there already when the team went in because earlier, a pissed off Poy Erram had been there, perhaps fuming about how he was being treated by referees and coaches alike.
Anyway, after the team left, photo showed a damaged wall and wait, also shown was a floor littered with empty bottles, plastic and other detritus of a team that didn't seem to care how the place looked like when they came in before leaving it in a mess.
Surely, our DNA is unlike that of other teams from other countries who leave locker rooms the same as they found it: spic and span.
Anyway, after losing the way TNT lost, who would bother to clean up. More important for the team is cleaning up the mess percolating in their minds after that wild and disappointing finish.
Home province debut for Gilas Youth coach Tenorio?
LA TENORIO’S first tournament as Gilas Pilipinas Youth coach could be held in the Philippines, maybe in Batangas, the coach's home province.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), sources say, is looking to host the SEABA Under-16 Championship, which will serve as Tenorio’s first competition since his appointment as national youth coach last November.
The last SEABA Under-16 Championship was held in Surabaya, Indonesia last July 2023 with the Philippines claiming its fifth title in as many tries. The Philippines hosted the tournament in 2015 in Cagayan De Oro and in 2017 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
READ LA Tenorio wraps up first tryouts as Gilas Pilpinas Youth coach
The national team is in the process of forming the team following tryouts conducted earlier this month.
The SEABA competition is a qualifier for the 2025 FIBA Asia Under-16 Cup to be held in Mongolia, which is turn is a qualifier for the 2026 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup. - Reuben Terrado
Japan V.League is Plan B for Solomon?
ALYSSA Solomon already has a Plan B in mind even before her controversial withdrawal from Korean V-League (KOVO) Asian Quota Draft.
With Solomon’s Korea bid seen as a potential violation of UAAP’s amateurism rules, the two-time UAAP best opposite spiker reportedly informed school officials of her decision to stay put at National U for the remainder of their title defense.
Once UAAP Season 87 is done and dusted - one Solomon previously said will be her last in the college ranks - her sights will still be set on playing overseas.
Sources told SPIN.ph that Solomon is planning to test her luck in other Asian leagues at the end of her college career.
Her first target? To follow ex-Lady Bulldog Jaja Santiago’s trail in the Japan SV.League.
Currently in Japan’s top-flight tournament along with Santiago are Filipina aces Jia de Guzman and Maddie Madayag.
At least for now, it remains unclear whether the PVL is among Solomon's options.
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