Poy Erram’s status for Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals between TNT and San Miguel Beer remains uncertain due to a suspected fracture on his cheekbone.
TNT team manager Gabby Cui confirmed the diagnosis after Erram underwent tests Monday, Oct. 11, a day after a 116-90 loss allowed SMB to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Erram was diving for the looseball when his face hit the floor after San Miguel Beer’s Mo Tautuaa landed on the Tropang Giga center.
Erram was able to walk back to the bench with help from his teammates, but was later sent to the hospital for observation.
Tautuaa, on the other hand, insisted after the game that he had no intention to hurt Erram.
The Tropang Giga are holding out hope that Erram’s injury won’t play a crucial role in the series, especially with the Beermen once again drawing level by posting the most lopsided game of the semis.
Erram was averaging 18.7 points on 55-percent shooting with 9.3 rebounds in the first three games of the series, highlighted by a 21-point effort in the Tropang Giga’s 115-98 victory in Game 3 last Oct. 8.
But Erram committed three fouls in the first quarter of Game 4 and SMB capitalized with Tautuaa leading the way with 10 of his conference-high 25 points in that period.
The Tropang Giga also saw Troy Rosario whistled for four fouls in the first half while the Beermen continued to pull away and eventually produce the most-lopsided game of the series.