(PBA image)
Poy Erram delivered when it mattered most, powering TNT Tropang 5G to the doorstep of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals with a commanding 102-83 victory over the Meralco Bolts on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Erram turned in his most dominant performance in a long while, erupting for 27 points as TNT seized a commanding 3-1 lead in their semifinal series. The veteran big man set the tone early with 12 points in the opening quarter, igniting a breakaway that the Tropang 5G never relinquished.
“I’m just thinking of helping the team any way possible,” said Erram, who was nearly flawless with a 9-of-11 shooting night, to go along with nine rebounds, three blocks, and two assists in just 25 minutes. “Thankful ako sa mga teammates ko. Nag-adjust kami at nakita nila ako. Ang iniisip ko lang talaga, makatulong—lalo na sa depensa.”
TNT hardly missed a beat despite the early exit of RR Pogoy, with Jordan Heading, Calvin Oftana, and Kim Aurin all scoring in double figures to overwhelm a Meralco side missing injured star Chris Newsome.
“There’s no secret we got a break because Chris Newsome didn’t play,” TNT coach Chot Reyes said candidly. “But we also lost Roger. That kind of evened things out. Without him, we knew the only way to win was to play good defense.”
Reyes pointed to their defensive intensity and control of the boards as key reasons for the bounce-back win, especially after dropping Game Three. Those efforts paid off as TNT drilled 12 of 31 from three-point range, stretching the Bolts’ defense and steadily pulling away.
Chris Banchero led Meralco with 19 points, while Cliff Hodge and CJ Cansino added 17 apiece as the Bolts tried to compensate for Newsome’s absence. Still, Meralco struggled mightily from long range, finishing just 1-of-12 from deep before Cansino hit a late triple.
With a 3-1 series edge, TNT knows the job isn’t finished yet.
“Meralco is Meralco. They have good coaches and good players,” Erram said. “We’re staying aggressive lang. Importante, nakuha namin yung third win.”
The Tropang 5G will look to close out the series in Game Five on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and book a return trip to the Philippine Cup Finals.
Final score: TNT Tropang 5G 102, Meralco Bolts 83.