3rd pick from Rain or Shine Elasto Painters – Raymond Almazan. PHOTO by Nuki Sabio/PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine welcomed Raymond Almazan to “Extra Rice. Inc”?
Not so fast.
Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao wants his third overall pick to bulk up for the PBA season as the lanky Almazan joins the “Extra Rice Inc.” boys JR Quiñahan and Beau Belga.
“He has the talent, the skills, the height but he doesn’t have the body yet,” Guiao told reporters midway thru the 2013 PBA Draft proceedings Sunday.
“We just have to build him a new body in the next six months.”
The fiery Guiao, whose squad is known for its rugged brand of play, sees the soon-to-be-named NCAA MVP as a project as he tries to develop a built fit for the physicality downlow in the PBA.
But the six-foot-seven Almazan can be the rim protector the Elastopainters are lacking.
“We have to build him up. His role [in the meantime] is to complement these guys [Belga and Quiñahan]. Later on, he can be our main man,” Guiao said.
In the meantime, Almazan needs a cup of extra rice, or two, from his hefty mentors.
“They [Belga and Quinahan] will have to share the extra servings of rice, and no better guys to bulk him up than those two guys,” Guiao said.
Almazan, who still has responsibilities with the final-four bound Letran Knights in the NCAA, knows what he needs to do.
“I need to add muscle,” Almazan said in Filipino. “I know I still have a lot to improve, I will improve.”