By JONAS TERRADO
One of the burning questions in the upcoming PBA Governors’ Cup Finals is if Raymond Almazan can provide the inside presence Meralco needs in order to match with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s frontline duo of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar.
But the 6-foot-8 center is confident he can be the equalizer the Bolts sorely lacked in their two previous Finals defeats to Ginebra, even if he’s coming off a rough showing in the recent semifinal series with TNT KaTropa.
“Sana makabawi ako sa Finals. Hindi ko iniisip ‘yung semis kasi panalo naman kami,” Almazan said.
“Alam naman natin na naghahanap ‘yung Meralco ng big man, matagal na,” added Almazan, who was acquired by Meralco from Rain or Shine in a trade last May. “Sa presence ko siguro, makakatulong ako this coming Finals.”
Almazan was one of the key reasons why Meralco made its way to the Finals for the third time in the last four editions of the Governors’ Cup, bouncing back from the struggles in his debut conference for the team in the Commissioner’s Cup with averages of 11.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.
But Almazan was hardly a factor in the semis as he only produced 4.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He had six turnovers in Game 4 but was fortunate to see the Bolts force a deciding game.
The six-year veteran admitted that facing a TNT frontline led by Troy Rosario has made it difficult for him to match up, given Rosario’s knack to play more in the perimeter.
He is glad, however, that Cliff Hodge was able to make up for what he’s lacked during the hard-fought series.
“Medyo masama ‘yung laro ko noong Game 4 at Game 5,” he said. “Ayun lumabas si Cliff na sobrang energetic and then talagang nakakasabay kasi ang problema namin is ‘yung bigs ng TNT sobrang bibilis at siya ang nakaka-catch up.”
