AFTER the pain comes the prize.
That couldn't be any truer for JP Erram as Blackwater rewarded him with a three-year, P15-million contract extension just last week.
"Sa dami ng nangyari sa buhay ko, thankful pa rin ako," the 29-year-old center said.
But before the Elite signed him up for three more seasons, Erram had to deal with a series of unfortunate events.
A tree fell on the former Ateneo big man's car just when the Philippine men's national team was about to leave for the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
He also suffered a chipped front tooth on a bad fall when he dove for a loose ball in the Philippines' quarterfinal game against Korea.
For all the sacrifice he's done, both for his mother ballclub and the country, it's just right that Erram got the reward he truly deserves.
"In a way, lahat ng bagay pinaghihirapan. Sabi nga nila sacrifice. Yun yung hindi nakikita ng mga tao. Sana ma-appreciate ng lahat ng ito," he said.
But for Erram, being called up in the national team is already a present on its own as he tries to earn his way for coach Yeng Guiao's squad in the September window of the 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.
"Thankful ako sa lahat ng nakukuha ko. Hindi ko tine-take for granted yung mga ganitong opportunity," he said. "Magandang motivation ulit ito para mabigay ko ang lahat para sa team ko at sa Pilipinas."
And Erram wouldn't have it any other way.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph