Three players in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals are trying to strike a balance of trying to help their teams reach the ultimate goal while virtually checking on the new members of their respective families.

The ongoing pandemic and the semi-bubble setup in Bacolor, Pampanga have forced TNT’s Poy Erram and Jayson Castro and Magnolia Pambansang Manok’s Mark Barroca to wait longer until they can hold their newborn babies.

Erram was the first to miss out on seeing wife Jerrylee give birth to their second child named Isaiah Luka during the early moments of the Bacolor restart last month.

Last week, Castro’s better half Lyle delivered their third child Lucia Esme while in the middle of the Tropang Giga’s semifinal series with the San Miguel Beermen.

“Siyempre, being away from your family dahil sa pandemic, sobrang hirap,” Erram said. “It’s our job. Lahat naman ng tao kailangan magtrabaho kahit may pandemic. I’m doing this for them. We’re doing this for our families.

“My wife understands it, so yun yung pinaka-importante, na naiiintindihan niya kahit nahihirapan. Pero yun, lumalaban,” added Erram, who constantly checks on his two kids through online platforms.

Like Castro, Barroca and wife Ruselle had their third child on the eve of Magnolia’s fifth semis match against Meralco.

The Hotshots point guard said that it’s a difficult process trying to do his role, especially with what’s at stake at this point of the conference. But Barroca is glad to get some moral support from coach Chito Victolero and the rest of his team.

“Kahit sabihin natin na fous tayo rito, alam mo it's the first time na magkalayo kami ng asawa ko, na wala ako sa tabi niya. Siyempre, nag-iisip din ako,” Barroca said.

“The day na pumunta kami rito, kasi nga due date niya is October, so akala ko, dati, na-extend pa tayo e, so nag-isip na rin ako paano. Nung una pa lang, pinag-usapan na namin ni Coach 'to kung paano.

“Pero tinulungan ako ni Coach, inencourage sa ganitong sitwasyon. Pasalamat ako kay Coach na nabigyan ako ng peace sa isip ko, na maglaro lang talaga rito ng focused para sa goal namin.”