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Erram on trade to NLEX: "Ganoon talaga ang basketball"

Poy Erram is moving on from his much talked about trade. Aldrin Alejo (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--With how 2018 went for Poy Erram, it seemed like Blackwater finally found its franchise player in him.

But in a pre-Christmas stunner, the team made a change of path and sent the six-foot-eight center to NLEX in a trade for draft picks Paul Desiderio and Abu Tratter.

[Related Story: NLEX confirms Erram trade with Blackwater for Desiderio, Tratter]

The trade got approved on Friday, three days after Christmas, following two revisions that saw TNT joining the swap and getting Mike Miranda from NLEX for Papot Paredes plus both TNT the Blackwater switching positions in the second round of the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association Draft.

[Related Story: Tamsi added into mix in approved Erram trade for Desiderio, Tratter]

"Wala akong magagawa kasi ganoon talaga ang basketball eh," Erram said the day after. "Kung saan tingin ng team saan may opportunity sila, doon sila."

But he rued, "Medyo malungkot din kasi four years din ako sa Blackwater, eh. Tapos, yung mga teammates ko lagi kong kasama."

Interestingly, the Road Warriors--with Erram and Paredes--and the KaTropa--now with Miranda--faced off in a tune-up game at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center inside the Ateneo High School grounds on Saturday.

Erram paced NLEX in a 95-90 win with 15 points, quite impressive for someone who was just fresh from the transfer.

That's all because he already had a grasp of what Coach Yeng Guiao's system is like following his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games and the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

"Kasi sa Gilas, alam ko na medyo mga play ni Coach Yeng, eh. Hindi na ako nahirapan mag-adjust. More on kailangan ko mag-adjust sa bagong team at bagong players," Erram continued.

While he is adjusting to a new squad, Erram felt like he is already at home with it.

"Pag punta ko pa lang sa first day ng practice, hindi ko naramdaman na galing ako ibang team. Na-feel ko kaagad na I belong agad sa team na ito," he further said.

Now that he is playing for a team that looks like a championship contender with him and the returning Kevin Alas plus Kiefer Ravena finally suiting up in September, Erram hopes his goal for the new year will take place.

"Sana ma-accumulate namin iyong sacrifices na ginawa namin sa team. Sana ma-convert namin sa panalo and sana next year makapaglaro ako at ang NLEX sa finals," he shared his wish for 2019.

He then vowed, "Kaming lahat magtulong-tulong kami para maabot iyon."

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno