CHICAGO - As rumors continue to swirl about his potential exit from the TNT Tropang Giga after this outburst-infested conference, Poy Erram made a strong case as to why he is a keeper.
In Wednesday night's must-win Game Six, the MVP group's resident bad boy stood out with 14 points and six rebounds to help drag TNT to a suspenseful 87-83 victory that forced a deciding Game Seven on Friday.
READ TNT forces winner-take-all Game 7 after surviving Ginebra rally
Despite being plagued by three early fouls, Erram was all over the Araneta Coliseum, turning from TNT fans' most disliked irritant to the most huggable performer, at least for a night when survival was absolutely necessary.
With Ginebra gaining steam, Erram went on a personal 5-0 run to give the Tropang Giga some breathing room at 72-62 with still 6:35 to play in the third quarter.
And with 16 ticks left in the fourth quarter, the former Ateneo Blue Eagles star calmly swished a pair of free throws that gave TNT an 85-80 margin which ultimately proved unreachable for the Gin Kings.
This big-time performance doesn't guarantee Erram's continued tenure at TNT, but it sure gives him a welcome reprieve.
"We won't be surprised if it happens, alam na ni Poy yan. He is a professional and he knows trades are part of the business," a source with knowledge of the situation told me on Wednesday morning, just hours before Game Six of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals.
TO TRADE OR NOT TO TRADE.
Indeed, player swaps are part and parcel of the PBA, a function that allows teams to plug manpower holes and fortify lineups. But if an Erram trade does occur, it will be self-induced.
A product of Ateneo's assembly line of talent, there is no denying the value of the 15th overall pick of the 2013 PBA expansion draft.
But anger management and emotion control have become an issue of late, casting doubts about his future with the telecommunications giant.
However, the 6-foot-7, 227-pounder's poise and production in Game Six could soften some of the misdemeanors that included childish tantrums, challenging coach Chot Reyes' authority, and flirting with mutiny.
After stints with Blackwater and NLEX, Erram landed at TNT in 2020. He has since become a three-time champion and two-time All-Star.
Yes, he can be a royal pain in the ass, but tall and nimble dudes like him don't grow on trees in the Philippines, either.
Which is why he is making at least P700,000 a month including bonuses, sources bared. His current deal expires at the end of 2026.
If the good Poy shows up again in Game Seven, it makes looking away from his warts easier to do for TNT.
Heck, he doesn't even have to churn out a double-double. He just has to behave.
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