POY Erram is seeking professional help to address his mental health issues that he admitted has become a distraction to TNT’s title bid in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra.
Erram bared the big reason for his recent outbursts during the title series is that he failed to address mental-health issues that came up following the death of his father just last February 13, which he admitted was painful for him.
The 35-year-old Erram finally decided to get help following a Game 5 loss where he had another verbal altercation, this time with TNT coach Chot Reyes, and after Tuesday’s practice where the team addressed the incident.
COLUMN: For this night, Erram turns from TNT pariah to savior
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I’ve been a distraction sa team and everybody knows it. Alam naman ng lahat ng tao,” said Erram in a heartfelt interview with reporters after Game 6 where he became one of the key players in their 87-83 win over Ginebra.
“Gusto ko lang talaga makabawi sa team and luckily, ‘yung mga time na kailangan ko umiskor, umiskor ako,” said Erram, who scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter to help TNT force a deciding Game 7.
On his mental state after the death of his father, Erram said: “Hindi ko kasi in-address. So now, parang nagbabayad ako dun kasi dahil nga may pressure ngayon, at nangyari ‘yung ganyan, ganyan. Nag-apologize ako (sa team) for being a distraction. Sinabi ko lang, I apologize.”
“And I’m seeking help,” Erram revealed. “I’m seeking help para moving forward, hindi lang para sa team, para din sa pamilya ko, for my family, and siyempre trabaho ko, di ba? Kasi if I don’t seek help, mahihirapan ako.”
Erram said the death of his father pained him, more so since he was the one who decided to take him off life support.
“Bago kasi siya namatay, hinanap niya ako. Hindi ko siya nakausap. Hindi ko nasabi ‘yung kailangan kong sabihin. I was thinking na magiging okay siya kasi naging okay siya for two weeks,” said Erram.
Erram said this is not the first time that he had to address his mental health, revealing that he dealt with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic attacks during the 2020 bubble season. The TNT big man said he was able to recover from his situation before, which is why he will seek help again.
“I sought help (during the bubble). Tinulungan ako ni Boss Ricky [Vargas], ni Boss Gabby (Cui). They helped me weekly. Ngayon, ganun din ang mangyayari,” said Erram.
Erram, however, said he is not making his mental health issues an excuse as he apologized to the people that he hurt during the controversies.
“Hindi naman masama humihingi ng tulong, di ba? So I do apologize. I apologize sa mga bata na nanonood. I apologize sa team, sa mga bosses namin, sa mga TNT fans, sa media. I do apologize on how I act. Kasi hindi ako ‘yun. Hindi talaga ako ‘yun kasi hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari sa akin,” said Erram.
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