Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
After a largely promising performance in the past Philippine Cup, JP Erram knows that pressure is slowly mounting on Blackwater to deliver this upcoming 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
So much so that he’s acknowledging the expectations and challenging his side to deliver this second conference.
“For us, this is already our peak,” he told INQUIRER.net on Friday after the team’s practice at SGS Stadium.
“I’m already 100-percent, same with my teammates. We’ve already jelled and you could see our chemistry. Yes, we are young, but I believe that we’ve all matured not just as individuals, but also as a group. So we need to perform this conference.”
Erram had his best showing to date this past all-Filipino tournament, norming 14.2 points, to go with league-best marks of 13.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks to finish fifth in the voting for the Best Player of the Conference award.
But the former Ateneo slotman is not done yet as he aims to translate those numbers to wins for the Elite.
Erram will be sharing the duties with fellow young guns Mac Belo, Raymar Jose, and Mike DiGregorio, alongside veteran Allein Maliksi.
“Coming to this conference, we know we have the materials and talent to win. We have an import in Jarrid Famous who’s willing to sacrifice and give everything for the team,” he said.
That’s why Erram is exuding in confidence that Blackwater won’t only make a noise this second conference, but also give the opposition a run for its money every time it takes the court.
“We’re working hard in practice so that whatever we’ve built last conference, we can improve on that and we could achieve our goal which is to make it to the playoffs and hopefully, the semis,” he said.