Poy Erram was not afraid to admit that he’s seeking professional help to address mental and emotional issues that led to outbursts during TNT’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup playoffs run.
The Tropang Giga big man has since apologized for the meltdowns and heated verbal spats with some of his teammates and even head coach Chot Reyes.
Erram acknowledged his unacceptable behavior and being a “distraction” in TNT’s finals campaign against Barangay Ginebra.
“Right now, I’m seeking help. Not just for the team but also for my family and my work. If I don’t seek help, it would be difficult for me,” he said after the Tropang Giga forced a decider in the best-of-seven series with an 87-83 victory in Game 6 Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-8 veteran had thrown a series of fits since the semifinals and became a center of controversy, concern, and ridicule.
He had a shouting match with teammate Glenn Khobuntin when the latter tried to pacify the temperamental center during Game 3 of the semis against Rain or Shine. Khobuntin brushed it off as “friendly fire.”
Erram again went berserk in Game 2 of the finals, kicking the team’s beverage bottles before heading back into the dugout to “cool off.”
He was seen kicking a row of suitcases outside TNT’s locker room and continued hitting things inside their dugout at the Mall of Asia Arena. A wall was left damaged inside the locker, sparking speculations that it was the outcome of Erram’s meltdown.
In Game 5, Erram and Reyes got tangled in a verbal altercation during a timeout in a match that saw TNT go down, 2-3, in the series.
Erram shared that he’s been having trouble dealing with the loss of his beloved father just a month ago.
“I’m not making any excuses, but since my Papa passed away, I’ve been really in a hard place. I wasn’t able to address it and now it’s manifesting with all the pressure and everything that has happened,” the 35-year-old bruiser said.
He also revealed that being the one to decide to take his father off life support brought him a heavy emotional and mental burden.
The Ateneo de Manila University product also sought the help of a mental health professional after suffering panic attacks during the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble.
“The team also helped me before (dealing with my mental health). Now I’m again seeking help moving forward,” Erram said.
“I really need help. I won’t say that I don’t need it because I’m a man, but I do need help,” he added.
A different Erram showed up in Game 6.