JP Erram vows to work harder as NLEX remains winless so far

MANILA, Philippines—Things are yet to turnaround for Poy Erram in his stay with new club NLEX with the team losing its first two games of the PBA Philippine Cup.

Erram, who was dealt from Blackwater, said the team has to have a stronger heart down the stretch and be more methodical in the clutch situations.

“We’re too tentative,” said Erram in Filipino after the Road Warriors’ 95-90 loss to NorthPort Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “When we’re passing in the crucial moments we turn the ball over.”

“We need to make quick, smart decisions especially now that we’re 0-2 in the standings. We have to commit fewer mistakes. It’d be harder for us to bounce back from a 0-3 hole.”

The Road Warriors were down five, 94-89, with 1:32 left in the game but instead of getting a shot opportunity at the post, Erram turned the ball over to Sean Anthony who came up with a steal.

NLEX then had another opportunity on offense, this time in transition, but Philip Paniamogan also turned it over with 42 seconds to play.

Erram, who had 19 points, seven rebounds, and six turnovers, said their head coach Yeng Guiao told them that they failed to make the crucial stops in the payoff period that led to their second straight loss.

“We committed too many turnovers and coach told us that down the stretch we couldn’t make any stops,” said Erram. “That was went missing from us, we have to work harder. We have to put in more effort.”