TNT's POY Erram only had the best intentions when he decided to play Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against San Miguel Beer last Sunday despite missing Game 3 because of a high ankle sprain.
He so wanted to help his team which was trailing 1-2 in their best-of-seven series. That was a bad decision. Whether TNT's medical staff approved it is still unknown, but during the game Erram said he suffered a hamstring tear, perhaps because he was trying not to put too much pressure on the injured ankle.
READ Erram says he appreciates Chris Ross' gesture after Game 4
Even more unfortunate, his presence did not reverse the outcome. TNT lost, 105-91, and Tropang 5G is now in a 1-3 hole, their grand slam bid holding on the slimmest of threads.
Erram played 18 minutes and 31 seconds despite his ankle issue, ending up with six points, four rebounds, and one block - stats that obviously did not carry much weight as the Beermen capitalized not only on Erram's physical ailment, but on the team's apparently cursed by injuries.
Post game, Erram appears to admit to having made the wrong decision.
“Kaso, mali pa yata ‘yung pagpilit kong ilaro,” said Erram. “Sama ng laro ko eh. Gusto ko lang makatulong para may extra body.”
“Masama pa, nagkaroon ako ng tear sa hamstring ko,” Erram later revealed.
The TNT center didn’t see action in Game 3 due to the high ankle sprain he sustained last Wednesday. With Erram not around, June Mar Fajardo took advantage and scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Erram said he took pain killers so that he could play for Game 4 to help the TNT frontline of Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
“Grabe ‘yung gamot na ininom ko,” Erram added. “Medyo nahihilo pa nga ako. Eto (hamstring), medyo masakit. Eto (ankle), hindi ko maramdaman. Baka bukas, maramdaman ko na paggising ko sa umaga. Wala namang ibang choice.”
Erram may be limited by his injuries, but his fighting spirit is unquestionable. He is not giving up on himself or his team. He still plans to play Game 5 on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum
“Wala akong choice eh. Pahinga tapos tignan muna kung anong nangyari sa hamstring ko kasi ngayon, hindi ko siya maramdaman,” said Erram, the one guy who, if only fully healthy, could have helped contain June Mar Fajardo, San Miguel's seemingly unstoppable star who just won another Best Player of the Conference award, the 12th of his career.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
