Rain or Shine center Raymond Almazan’s official return to basketball action will still have to wait a little longer.
Almazan suffered a sprained left ankle in practice this Tuesday, just three days before his much-anticipated come back to the Elasto Painters in their match against the NLEX Road Warriors, Friday evening at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The 6-foot-8 center said he stepped on Norbert Torres’ foot in their scrimmage, leading to the injury.
Apparently, Almazan’s past sprains were also on his left foot, making it even more painful for him to play through it.
“Natapakan ko sa paa si Norbert sa practice. Panay kaliwa na rin yung tapilok ko dati,” said Almazan, who was reduced to a spectator in the Elasto Painters’ 96-87 win over the Road Warriors.
“Tapos yung mga old injuries ko na tapilok, nakita sa MRI eh. Alam ko may tumubong bone spur eh. Sa kakalaro ko siguro, minsan kahit masakit nilalaro ko eh.”
Almazan went AWOL last year at the height of Rain or Shine’s season-ending conference campaign.
He came back after the Governors’ Cup after settling differences with the Rain or Shine camp.
Long before his return though, Almazan confided that he had already been working out by himself so he would reach peak condition right away when he reported back to practice, only to have his efforts wasted with his unexpected injury.
“Siyempre, matagal akong nawala eh. Maaga ako nagpakundisyon, after naming malaglag (sa Governors’ Cup), three weeks ahead nun. Nagpapakundisyon nako para pagbalik nila sa ensayo, kundisyon na ako kasi diba nga yung nangyari,” he shared.
“So ayun, five days nalang, tsaka pa na-injured. Déjà vu. Pangatlong beses na ‘tong All-Filipino na ‘di ko makakalaban NLEX. Seryoso yun.”
Almazan cleared that his injury wasn’t that serious, but still could not assure his immediate return as there is still pain on his left foot.
“Hindi naman sya ganoon kalala,” he said.
“Mahirap pa rin magsalita eh, kasi sabi nga ng PT ko na kahit wala namang lumabas sa MRI, ‘pag naglalaro ako masakit pa rin.”
Almazan also rued this unfortunate injury which will cost his return to the national team Gilas Pilipinas, following his inclusion to the newest 14-man pool earlier this week.
“Medyo nakaka-disappoint kasi mabibigyan ng bagong tsansa tapos bigla na naman injury. Sana talaga makabalik ako ng mabilis. Yun talaga,” he said.
Even with the uncertainty of his return, Almazan expressed his gratitude to former mentor Guiao for this another chance in the national team.
“Thankful ako.
“Kasi akala ko, may nag-tag lang sa akin na fan, akala ko gumagawa lang sila noon. Yun pala kasali na talaga ako. Nagulat din. Thankful, kahit ano mangyari talaga si Coach Yeng laging may tiwala sa player nya yun,” he concluded.
Almazan will undergo re-evaluation next week before determining the status of his injury, according to Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia.
