PBA approves Raymond Almazan to Meralco trade

The PBA has approved the trade between the Meralco Bolts and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters involving Raymond Almazan, Tuesday.

The 6-foot-8 Almazan will now be heading to the Bolts in exchange of 2019 and 2021 first round draft picks.

This ends Almazan’s six-year stay with the Elasto Painters, who took him with the third overall pick in 2013.

The Letran alumnus had himself a good stay in Rain or Shine, having won one PBA title with them back in 2016.

But issues plagued what turned out to be his last full season with RoS back in 2018, where he reportedly went AWOL in team practices and had a conflict with head coach Caloy Garcia.

They have patched things up, but just recently, Almazan’s relationship with the Elasto Painters’ top brass turned sour yet again, prompting the management to seek for any takers for him.

Almazan appeared in just six games for Rain or Shine in the 2019 Philippine Cup as he has been hobbled by an ankle injury, which got aggravated during a Gilas Pilipinas stint.

The native of Orion, Bataan is now headed to a Bolts team that has been in need of a legit big man for a long while. He will be bolstering a frontcourt that features 10-plus year veterans Reynel Hugnatan and Ranidel De Ocampo.

Almazan is expected to report for practice this Thursday.