Poy Erram was returning to the TNT dugout after a lopsided Game 5 win that left the Tropang Giga one step away from repeating as PBA Governors’ Cup champions when a Barangay Ginebra fan couldn’t help but shout at the veteran center to shout at.
“Iyakin (crybaby)!” The fan shouted at Erram, who just grinned broadly while giving high fives to his teammates to enjoy the Tropang Giga’s 99-72 win over the Gin Kings on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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“Our goal was to be aggressive,” said Erram, who has been labeled as such after painful playoff losses in the past. “We also focused on ourselves and not on the referees or the audience.”
Despite blowing a 2-0 lead in the series, Erram and the Tropang Giga are close to having the last laugh and will get two chances to do so starting in the sixth game at 7:30 p.m. at the Big Dome on Friday.
Staying composed will be one of the keys for TNT to win their second straight title and 10th overall. They also have to counteract what Ginebra will do to stay alive and force a decisive Game 7 on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
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Ginebra played flat throughout the fifth game as TNT got off to a 9-2 start trailing veteran Kelly Williams by seven points before the Tropang Giga took advantage of Ginebra’s cold shot to take a 56-33 lead at halftime.
JB’s career low
Justin Brownlee was held to a PBA career-low eight points, the first time the starting backup, and perhaps Ginebra’s heart and soul, failed to break double digits in his career. Coach Tim Cone ultimately decided to rest Brownlee early in the second half when he felt a comeback was no longer possible for his charges.
“It doesn’t matter if we lost by one point or 30 points. “The bottom line is we lost,” lamented Cone, who despite the disappointment insists that promotion remains likely regardless of the final result.
“I know our fans and our team are feeling bad, but the bottom line is it’s just one game in the series,” he added.
Also turned off
Stephen Holt had a quiet performance and Maverick Ahanmisi was non-existent after the two played important roles in Games 3 and 4. Rookie RJ Abarrientos struggled again.
But TNT’s Chot Reyes, who is aiming to become the fourth coach in PBA history to win 10 championships alongside Cone, Baby Dalupan and Norman Black, remains skeptical about what Ginebra is capable of.
“(Brownlee) had a bad night, but we know it won’t stay that way next game,” Reyes said. “And coach Tim gave him some rest early on to prepare him, so to speak, for an attack with one step back and two steps forward. So we just have to be ready.
“We know he (Brownlee) will come out (tough in Game 6), as will the entire Ginebra team,” Reyes continued. “We just need to make sure we stay on our toes and be prepared for a big fightback from Ginebra in the next game.”
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And if the Tropang Giga can continue to feature veterans like Williams and Jayson Castro, there’s a strong chance the Governors’ Cup trophy will be lifted aloft and confetti will be flying around the Big Dome when the final buzzer sounds.
“We just have to provide a sense of urgency,” Reyes said.