Ginebra fan Raymond Almazan torn between joining PBA draft, playing in SEA Games

Sports5 file/Paul Mata

Letran Knights center Raymond Almazan is torn between declaring for the PBA draft and playing for the national team in the Southeast Asian Games.

The 6-foot-8 beanpole, a cousin of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel forward Kerby Raymundo, has emerged as a top candidate for Most Valuable Player in the NCAA, and is considered a blue chip prospect if he joins the PBA draft in November.

But he has also been named by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as a candidate for inclusion for the Philippine team to the SEA Games in December.

“Hindi ko talaga alam kung ano magiging desisyon ko. Kinausap ako ng manager ko and sinabi niya sa akin kung saan ako masaya yun ang gawin ko. Gusto ko talagang magpa-draft this year,” said Almazan, who was a guest on Sports5 Center on Wednesday.

But he added that donning Philippine colors is also a dream for him.

“Since naglaro ako ng basketball, pangarap ko na yan. Kasi nga yung pinsan ko, si Kerby Raymundo, nag-Philippine team. Gusto kong sumunod sa yapak niya,” he said.

“Pero this year kasi parang ang gulo ng schedule. Kasi may FIBA, tapos may draft, then may SEA Games. Pero hindi ba pwede na halimbawa na-draft ako, pwede kayang ipahiram muna ako to play sa national team? Kasi gusto ko rin talagang maglaro sa national team.

“Sino ba namang ayaw maglaro para sa bayan mo? Once in a lifetime lang yun. Kung pwede talaga akong maglaro bakit hindi.”

If he joins the draft, he will enter a big man-laden pool that is also expected to include seven-foot center Greg Slaughter and former NCAA Most Valuable Player Ian Sangalang.

“Sa tingin ko yung No.1 spot for the draft kay Slaughter na yan. Sure ako diyan. Siguro No. 2 si Ian siguro. Sabi nila nasa No.3 ako, pero hindi ko na masyadong iniisip yun. Basta ako makapunta ako sa PBA masaya na ako. Bata pa lang ako pangarap ko na maglaro sa PBA,” said Almazan.

If given the choice, Almazan wants to suit up for Ginebra, the league’s most popular player, in large part to team up with Raymundo.

“Syempre Ginebra No. 1 team sa PBA yan. Napakadaming supporters niyan. Tsaka yung makapaglaro with him, isang malaking privilege yan. Napakasaya ko niyan if that happens kasi nga mentor ko siya, pinsan ko pa. Tingin ko maga-guide niya ako sa loob ng court, sa practice,” said Almazan.

For most of his career, Almazan has followed Raymundo’s footsteps all the way to Letran, which is also the latter’s alma mater.

“Madalas kaming mag-one on one noon ni Kerby, turo niya sa akin yung facing the basket, simple basketball, jump shot, kapag malaki yung bantay,” said Almazan. “Ginagawa ko naman yun sa laro. Sabi niya, once na nahawakan ko yung bola, kailangan face basket, then kapag libre tira. May shooting naman daw kasi ako.”

Almazan wants to bring back a title to Intramuros, hoping to duplicate Raymundo’s feat of leading the Knights all the way.

But he knows he and his teammates will have to work hard for it.

“Wish ko na mag-champion sa Letran bago ako magpa-draft. Pero hindi wini-wish yun, ginagawa yun. Start from the practice yan. Sana i-guide kami na walang ma-injure, kung sa amin talaga yung championship, kailangan pagtrabahuhan namin. Mahirap hilingin yun, hindi basta ibibigay yan,” he said.

“Pero gusto ko yung tsansa naming manalo ng championship. Kaya ko tinapos yung final year ko kasi gusto kong mag-champion sa Letran.”