Just like everybody else, former Rain or Shine Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao is also puzzled with what’s happening with his former student Raymond Almazan.
In a shocking development disclosed by Rain or Shine chief mentor Caloy Garcia last Sunday, the 6-foot-8 slotman has been AWOL for days – he even missed his team’s game versus the Blackwater Elite also last Sunday in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
That marked the second straight game Almazan has been absent. The Elasto Painters lost, 93-99, sending them second to the last place of the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup team standings with an uncharacteristic 0-4 record.
According to reports that have come out since Sunday’s development, the reason behind Almazan’s sudden disappearance in the Rain or Shine camp stems from yet another misunderstanding between him and second-year head coach Garcia.
“Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit dumating sa ganitong situwasyon,” said a puzzled Guiao, Wednesday evening.
“Hindi ko naman nakitang matampuhin yun eh. Pinalaki ko sa sigaw at mura yun at gumaling siya sa ganoon.
“So hindi ko alam kung anong pinag-daramdam niya ngayon. Pero mabait na bata si Raymond, mabait na bata yan, kilala ko yan,” he added.
As of this posting, nobody is aware of Almazan’s whereabouts, even agent Danny Espiritu, though the well-known sports agent said that he was able to speak with the disgruntled five-year pro a few days ago.
“Baka kinidnap? Baka nasa flying saucer siya ngayon. Baka ibi-beam down lang yan ulit,” Guiao joked.
But kidding aside, Guiao believes that this will be resolved soon. And he has faith that Garcia and Almazan will be able to work this out, given that they have been together ever since their Letran days years ago.
“Mas nauna niyang naging bata yun, sa Letran pa.
“Si coach Caloy actually ang nagsabi sa akin na kuhain namin yan sa Rain or Shine dahil bata niya. If there’s anybody who knows Raymond better, it should be coach Caloy,” Guiao said.
