Raymond Almazan is definitely thrilled now that he’s returning to the Big Dance after three long years.
The 6-foot-8 slotman is now back in the PBA’s grandest stage after he and Meralco ousted sister team TNT in Game Five of the semis last Monday to head to the 2019 Governors’ Cup Finals.
“Sobrang tagal ko na [huling] nag-finals, 2016, so very excited ako,” said Almazan, recalling the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup Finals which he and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters won over Alaska Aces.
Almazan has definitely been a major factor for the Bolts this conference big thanks to his inside presence, and he believes that he will be of help come the titular series that starts on January 8.
“Alam naman natin na naghahanap yung Meralco ng big man, matagal na. Sa presence ko siguro, makakatulong ako this coming Finals namin,” said the 30-year-old from Bataan.
Meralco will be facing a foe so familiar in Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the best-of-seven title bout, marking the third time in four years that the two teams will duke it out for Governors’ Cup supremacy.
With it being storied, interesting faceoffs are anticipated by many, such as Allen Durham going up against Justin Brownlee in the battle of the best foreign reinforcements in recent memory.
There’s also the chess match between coaches Tim Cone and Norman Black, as well as the guard play featuring Bolts Baser Amer and Chris Newsome and Gin Kings LA Tenorio and Stanley Pringle.
Now, eyes are on Almazan and his looming clash with Ginebra’s twin towers Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter. And the six-year pro out of Letran is very much looking forward to it.
“Gusto ko yun kasi talagang mga big man yun eh,” he said. “Masasabi mong match yung Finals. Greg or Japeth, sinong kukuhain ko, wala akong pakialam. Finals is Finals eh.
“Wala munang kaibi-kaibigan. Kung maari wala munang pansinan. Baka pwede i-unfollow ko muna si Japeth sa Instagram ko.”
