Meralco coach Norman Black is reaping the fruits of trading for a still-recovering Raymond Almazan in a deal with Rain or Shine prior to the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Now fully fit and adjusted to the Bolts system, Almazan has been a steady inside force for the third-running Bolts, norming 14.89 points and 11.89 rebounds while complementing the game of import Allen Durham.
The 6-foot-7 Almazan grabbed a career-best 24 rebounds, including five off the offensive boards, to go with 18 points to help the Baser Amer-less Bolts to a 92-74 rout of Columbian Dyip for their fourth straight win and 7-2 overall.
"He's been a blessing, there's no question," said Meralco coach Norman Black. " We got him in the second conference, and we received him with injury already. It took him a little while to recover but when he did recover the conference was already over."
A healthy-again Almazan comes in handy as Meralco vies for the Top 4 in the quarterfinals of the season-ending tournament.
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"Now, he's healthy and he knows the system already and he's comfortable with his teammates. He's been doing a great job for us manning the paint and manning the middle. And he makes a big difference as far as Allen Durham's game is concerned because he takes a lot of pressure off of him inside the paint," said Black.
Almazan is just repaying the trust from Black.
"Blessed din ako kinuha nila ako, inaalagan nila ako. Siguro parang give back lang ako," said Almazan
"Going in the flow lang ako sa team namin. Siguro iyung double double parang bonus lang sa akin yun si AD nag-a-atttract ng so much defense. Every game pinaghahandaan namin."
Almazan eclipsed his old personal best of 17 rebounds, which he set back in the 2016 Philippine Cup while playing for Rain or Shine. He already had 13 boards after the first 24 minutes of play Friday.
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"Noong first half, aware ako; noong second half, hindi na kasi mabilis rotation. Noong first half, kaya dumami rebounds ko kasi sa akin ang bagsak ng rebounds eh, so high ko yata yung 24," he said.
Asked if he could make 30 boards, Almazan smiled. "Kaya, naka 24 nga ako."
"Pero hindi mahalaga yun, basta manalo kami. iyon ang mahalaga dito. At sake (just want to) make the most out of it. Sabi nga ni coach, kapag andyan si AD sobrang contender ng team namin. Alam ko rin naman yun before noong nasa Rain or Shine ako, kapag si AD nasa Meralco, iba laro nila," he stressed.(OL)
