AFTER the final buzzer sounded and the confetti rained down on the hardwood, much-maligned TNT center JP Erram carried one of his children on his back in sheer ecstasy.
It’s a title win against Ginebra that will surely soothe all the pain the 6-foot-7 Erram had endured in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“It’s a blessing, siyempre. Hindi naman madali. Alam ninyo naman ang series namin with Ginebra, sobrang hirap ‘di ba?” Erram said. “Sobrang sweet lang, especially for me. Alam ninyo naman kung anong nangyayari sa akin. Alam ninyo naman kung anong pinagdadaanan ko.
“With Him, nothing is impossible basta magtiwala ka lang sa Kanya and magtiwala ka sa mga taong naniniwala sayo. Doon ako bumabalik,” he added.
Despite all the brouhaha, Erram proved his worth for the Tropang Giga in the last two games.
The former Ateneo standout poured 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter in TNT’s 87-83 victory in Game 6 Wednesday last week that kept the Tropang Giga’s title dreams.
Erram had five markers, five rebounds, and two assists in TNT’s scintillating 87-83 overtime triumph over the Kings in the seventh game in front of 21,274 wild and roaring fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Those were far from what Erram showed, at least in the early part of the Big Dance and in the fifth clash.
Erram, 35, went berserk going to the team’s dugout in Game 2, fought teammate Glenn Khobuntin in the third tiff, and figured in a verbal tussle against no less than Tropang Giga coach Chot Reyes in Game 5.
Good thing Erram has a solid inner circle that supported him during those dark and trying times.
“Aside din sa nagse-seek ako ng help, nandoon iyong hindi ko malilimutan iyong mga tao around me kasi alam ko sila iyong may maitutulong para sakin,” Erram said. “So, itong panalo na ito, para ito sa kanila, hindi ito para sa akin.
Erram reserved his biggest gratitude to former player Ervin Sotto, one of Erram’s assistant coaches during his stint with NLEX, and fellow controversial cager Calvin Abueva of Magnolia.
“Si kuya Ervin, tsaka si Calvin Abueva, sila iyong mga, alam mo iyon, out of nowhere na tumulong kumausap sa akin, hindi kapani-paniwala. Also, si Calvin, ang laki ng tulong sa akin. Nag-usap kami, nagkita kami sa mall,” he said. “Iyong advise niya sa akin, we’re the same.
“Pero sabi nga, focus ka lang sa laro, alam mo kung gaano ka kagaling. So, iyon, pati iyong kay kuya Ervin ang laking tulong para sa akin.”
One big lesson in this chapter of Erram’s career? Just roll with the punches and one can always redeem oneself—if he wants to.
