PBA: ‘Erram worth every penny’
Credit to Author: Tempo Online| Date: Sat, 05 Jan 2019 08:39:22 +0000
By Dennis Principe
NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao is optimistic that acquiring center John Paul Erram would be worth every penny, noting how many players and draft picks they needed to give up just to get the services of the 6-foot-8 slotman.
NLEX recently entered into a trade agreement where the Road Warriors gave up rookie picks Paul Desiderio and Abu Tratter and Guiao’s protégé Mike Miranda just to acquire the 29-year-old Erram.
“To get Erram, we got him in exchange for our number four and number seven picks and Mike. So tatlo yun,” disclosed Guiao, “But what people might not notice, to get number four we had to give up Alex Mallari and Dave Marcelo.”
“So kung tutuusin mo, we lost our fourth and seventh picks, we lost Alex and Dave, we lost Mike for one person,” added Guiao. “So I hope it’s going to be worth the cost.”
The trade was initially disapproved by the PBA but both NLEX and Erram’s now-former team Blackwater revised the deal by including TNT Ka Tropa in their amended pact, later on approved by the league, that saw Miranda and Elite’s future second round picks ending up with KaTropa, Erram and seldom-used center Papot Paredes going to the Road Warriors and Desiderio and Tratter finally going to the Elite.
For his part, Erram assures he will be giving his all while playing for NLEX as he is very much aware of the sacrifices made by the Road Warriors just to get his services.
“Lalo na ngayon, ang daming binitawan ng NLEX para lang mapunta ako dito so dun pa lang makikita mo na kung gaano ako ka-importante para lang mapunta dito sa team,” said Erram.
Adjustment meantime won’t be a major issue for Erram whose stint with the national team under Guiao would help the Cagayan de Oro-native slotman easily embrace the system being utilized by NLEX.
“Alam na niya ano gusto ko, alam na niya mga plays namin. Maybe 80% of our plays we ran with the national team are also the plays we run here,” said Guiao “He could be a game changer for us and make us a contender.”
Guiao actually has every reason to feel good about their upcoming campaign now that combo guard Kevin Alas is set to make his hardcourt return 11 months after suffering an ACL tear.
Add to that the possibility of welcoming back incoming sophomore Kiefer Ravena whose 18-month ban, which is set to end August of this year, is currently under appeal.
“Merong move pero we have no control over that because we’re just relying on the SBP officials and the work that he’s been doing. We hope yung kaniyang advocacy ay makita naman ng FIBA,” revealed Guiao.
Ravena was slapped with the suspension by FIBA for failing a random test last February 2018 after the Gilas Pilipinas game against Japan at the Mall of Asia Arena.