Almazan fulfills dream of facing Ginebra in finals
Credit to Author: Josef T. Ramos, TMT| Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2020 16:12:00 +0000
Raymund Almazan of Meralco is too happy facing crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the best-of-seven finals of Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.
Almazan was a Rain or Shine player when the Bolts lost to the Gin Kings during the 2016 and 2017 Governors’ Cup Finals.
“Bata pa lang ako, nagkakagulo na sa bahay pagkagaling ko sa school pag may laro ang Ginebra sa finals. (coming home from school when I was still a kid, our house was abuzz every time Ginebra is playing in the finals),” said the 6’7 Almazan, a former Colegio San Juan de Letran Knights standout, during the Governors’ Cup Finals news conference on Saturday.
“Dream come true sa akin na makalaban ‘yung Ginebra sa finals to be honest talaga. Sobrang excited at sana maging iba result this time (It’s a dream come true to play against Ginebra in the finals, to be honest. I’m so excited and I’m hoping the result would be different this time),” he added.
Almazan was one of the new players acquired by Meralco via midseason trade with Rain or Shine last May.
Almazan saw action in five championships and had won one title with the Elasto Painters under Rain or Shine’s former coach Yeng Guiao in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.
Almazan said another PBA title under his name would be good plus it would be the Bolts’ first crown since joining the league in 2010.
“Malaking bagay. Parang ‘yung gutom mo sa finals nandoon tapos against Ginebra pa at alam naming hindi ito magpapatalo (It’s a huge thing. You plunge into the finals hungry and most of all it’s against never say die Ginebra,” he said.
Almazan is averaging 11.2 points and 9.8 rebounds in the Governors’ Cup.