CLOSE friends Poy Erram and Troy Rosario square off for a PBA championship for the first time in their professional careers.
Erram and Rosario were members of the TNT team that captured the 2021 Philippine Cup title.
But now, the two will be on opposite ends when Erram’s Tropang Giga face Rosario’s Barangay Ginebra for the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup crown.
READ: Troy sets aside friendship with Erram, TNT in first finals clash
Even as Erram and Rosario have been on different teams for quite some time now after the latter was traded from TNT to Blackwater in 2022, their friendship remained.
“Nag-start ‘yung pagiging magkaibigan namin sa TNT. Hindi naman natatapos doon,” said the 35-year-old Erram in an interview last January 17 when the Tropang Giga battled the Gin Kings in the elimination round.
“Magkaibigan talaga kami off-court. Mas close ‘yung bond namin off-court. So kahit magkalaban kami, siyempre as a sign of respect, I will go hard kapag kalaban namin sila. Same as Troy. Go hard talaga siya kapag magkalaban."
For his part, Rosario said his friendship with Erram - as well as his other former Tropang Giga teammates - didn't change even though he signed with Ginebra as an unrestricted free agent.
“Hindi naman natin mapagkakaila, best friend ko si Poy,” said the 33-year-old Rosario. “Nakakausap kausap ko pa rin sila [RR] Pogoy, kuya Jayson [Castro]. Pagdating sa court, iba na, pero outside the court, may bond pa rin kaming nabuo.”
Erram said he became close with Rosario during the PBA bubble in 2022 when they were roommates.
It was there when they learned that they had a lot of similarities, especially their humble beginnings with Rosario from Cagayan Valley and Erram from Cagayan De Oro. From there, they worked hard to land athletic scholarships with National U and Ateneo, respectively before ultimately making their way to the PBA.
As their bond strengthened, their families eventually became close, as well.
“Pandemic bubble, alam ko first time naming magkasama. Tapos napa-share kami ng stories namin sa life. Ang dami naming in common sa mga story namin. ‘Yung journey niya as a person, as basketball players, almost the same (kami),” shared Erram.
“The more na nalaman ko story niya, the more I respect him as a person at ‘yung family niya.”
Two friends, one Commissioner's Cup champion
That respect, however, hasn't been afforded all the time for Erram, who has been, at times, called 'iyakin' by Ginebra diehards.
Rosario won't be carried away by any of that animosity in this new-age rivalry, however, as he will always consider Erram his best friend.
“Professional tayo. Basketball, basketball ‘yan. Outside basketball, ok kami,” said Rosario.
As they go after another PBA championship, they vow to play their best, even if they go at each other when they share the floor.
At the same time, Erram wishes Rosario nothing but the best in his individual career.
“Happy ako na maganda ‘yung takbo ng career niya. I always pray na tumagal pa career niya. Nothing but the best for him,” said Erram.
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