Class and maturity on display for Poy.
As Poy Erram continues to nurse his knee injury, he has bid goodbye to his chances of making the Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA World Cup roster.
One can say it’s a bummer, but Erram is looking at the bright side.
“As I close this chapter of my life, gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa lahat ng taong nagtiwala at tumulong sa’kin. Thank you for giving me a chance to fight for my country. Thank you for letting my dreams become a reality,” the big man wrote on Instagram on Sunday.
The 6-foot-7 center suited up for Gilas in four separate FIBA tilts, including the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup where he averaged 5.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in four games.
“Just by wearing that jersey having that name in front always gave me goosebumps. Because not a lot of players have that chance to play and represent the country.”
The former Ateneo Blue Eagle also made an admission that not many athletes will be brave enough to voice out.
“I know there are players that are more deserving than me,” Erram wrote before quickly putting things in perspective. “But I know that I deserved this.”
In a Gilas pool that has big men in six-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, NBL alum and Japan B.League pro Kai Sotto, Japeth Aguilar, and the fast-rising AJ Edu, some fans may have indeed overlooked Erram even before he got injured.
The TNT Tropang Giga pivot, however, believes he had always earned his spot in the national team.
“I deserved this for the people that believe in me. I deserved this for the people that hated me. I deserved this for my family, and most of all I deserved this for me.”
But if you’re one of the Poy Erram fans out there, good news is that he is ready to come back to national duty when called upon.
“All I know is this, every time they ask if I’m available, I will always say YES kahit una akong sinabihan or last,” Poy said.
“Nangarap lang ako dati na magkaron ng kahit na practice jersey lang ng GILAS. But now I am part of GILAS history and all worth it,” he added.