TNT mentor Chot Reyes praised the performance of Poy Erram in Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, highlighting the significant role the towering player has for the squad.
Erram secured 10 out of his 14 points during the final period, propelling TNT to an 87-85 victory against Barangay Ginebra and setting up a decisive championship match on Friday evening at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
After getting into a heated argument with Reyes in the third quarter of Game 5, which TNT ended up losing, it turned out to be a significant rebound for Erram.
“We simply instructed Poy to concentrate on tuning out the distractions. That’s what matters most for him,” stated Reyes.
Reyes mentioned that out of all our players in this series, he had the best plus-minus rating on the effort chart.
Erram was whistled for three quick fouls in Game Six but managed to assert his influence without picking up additional penalties.
“I mentioned, ‘Concentrate, ignore the distractions,’ as his presence is crucial. Thankfully, he managed to do so,” stated Reyes.
Reyes mentioned that both he and Erram did not revisit their Game Five verbal altercation since Reyes chose to move past the situation swiftly. However, in a different discussion, Erram stated that he had issued an apology to the squad regarding his behavior during the incident.
Ultimately, Reyes stated that TNT remains a family, irrespective of the events that transpired during Game 5.
“I didn’t feel the necessity to tackle this issue. First off, I was unaware of whatever discussions were happening since I do not follow such matters. Instead, I kept my focus solely on our current assignment, and disregarded any conversations outside as they hold minimal importance for us,” stated Reyes.
Yesterday, we had our usual team gathering, and there was nothing significant to discuss since the level of trust within our group is so high. When tempers flare among us—like siblings or close relatives who laugh and argue—we might shout at one another. However, this does not imply that they will cease being part of a family.
“I wouldn’t call it normal, but as I mentioned, we didn’t have to discuss it or bring it up,” stated Reyes.