Almazan gets dunked on by Alexander, but says it’s just ‘part of the game’
Rain or Shine center Raymond Almazan found himself at the wrong end of a poster after NLEX import Kwame Alexander vaulted him for a ferocious one-handed flush during the fourth quarter of their thrilling game Wednesday night.
Almazan said it was his first time to get dunked on but he has no regrets in trying to challenge Alexander despite the embarrassing result.
“[It’s] part of the game,” said the lengthy 6-foot-7 Almazan. “Mas magagalit siguro ako sa kanya kung sinira niya career ko pero hindi naman siguro, hindi naman ako mamamatay dun (I would’ve gotten mad at him had he (Alexander) ruined my career but I don’t think he did).”
The former NCAA MVP also said he didn’t expect the forceful 6-foot-5 Alexander to dunk over him.
“Nagulat din talaga ako (I was surprised). Akala ko go hard lang siya tapos lefty na layup kaso bigla siyang tumalon ng mataas, wala na akong magagawa doon kasi nakatayo na ako dun (I thought he was just going to go hard and make a layup with his left hand but he jumped so high and I can’t do anything about it because I was already in front of him),” Almazan recalled after an eight-point, seven-rebound effort that helped Rain or Shine hold off NLEX.
READ: PBA: Rain or Shine loses 29-point lead but holds on to beat NLEX
“Mas okay na din yon kaysa naman wala kang ginawang effort (It’s still the better thing to do rather than not doing anything). Sabi ni coach, okay lang yon. (Coach said it’s okay [to get dunked on]. It’s part of the game.”
Almazan, the former Letran Knight, however, couldn’t escape his teammates, who poked fun at him after the game.
“Binibiro namin sa dugout pero sinasabi niya kasama sa laro yon. Ganon naman eh, madadakdakan ka, it’s part of the game (We were teasing him in the dugout, but it’s just part of the game. You really get dunked on),” said veteran big man Beau Belga.
“Handa lang siya lagi, handa lang siya na pag-tripan ng teammates niya, ganon naman kami na kapag may instances na katawa-tawa talagang kawawa ka (He just needs to be ready, ready to get laughed at by his teammates because that’s how we are in this team when you do something hilarious, you get teased,” Belga said with a laugh. CFC
