Raymond Almazan, where are you?

(An open letter to Raymond Almazan)

Never give up. Never give in.

That is the motto the men’s basketball team, the famed Letran Knights, live by. But somehow, one of them has given up and given in to distractions. Or has he?

It’s been pretty noticeable since the opening day win against San Sebastian that Raymond Almazan hasn’t played or been seen in the campus. What has happened to the promising center and backbone of Coach Louie Alas’ defensive schemes? Lots of people have heard hearsays here and there. Some spanning through the guard chatter at the Letran Dormitory beside the gym and reaching Bataan, where Almazan hails from.

Almazan was included in last season’s Mythical Five for holding the fort defensively for Letran. His numbers tiptoed double-double figures with close to 10 points and 11 glass cleaners a game. It came as a surprise to the Letran supporters. The year prior, he was barely even registering a blip. He was cannon fodder for posterizations by Calvin Abueva and Sudan Daniel. But obviously, the guy had talent somewhere. Those lie on the defensive end, for his offensive game is limited to turning trash into gold at this point.

He was a human windmill and his timing was something you could not teach this side of Ian Sanggalang. And last year was such a marvel to behold. Here was a legit 6-foot-7-inch totem pole who can man the paint since the days of Kerby Raymundo. He gives Letran, and Jam Cortes and Jonathan Belorio more freedom to roam, help out and close the lane and direct the shots for a clean Almazan swat. That’s what this analyst observed last year and it downright helped the Knights lock down a Final Four seat without any problems.

Here is one of the reasons why the Letran community is thinking championship in its hosting gig. Here’s a guy who totally compliments what Kevin Alas, Kevin Racal and Jam Cortes brings to the hard court. They need rebounds? Almazan can board with the best with his improved positioning and boxing out techniques. Blocks? This guy was up there with Sudan Daniel on his best day. Putbacks? In Filipino terms, it was “lista” already when he’s under that hoop, as far as I have observed.

Now, where are you big man?

Was this a case of all the overnight, so to speak, achievements going to his head that it ballooned to an unproportionate size? One may believe so, but is it really? I do not think so. Here’s a relative of the famed Kerby “The Kid” Raymundo, one of the most humble PBA stars I came to admire. For sure he has advised Almazan on what can kill a career and what can help it prosper. And I do not think, even with the constant comments of him giving head aches to Coach Louie, that it is the problem. I had the chance to interview Coach Louie before and all he wants is for his boys to be successful in life, giving them the proper direction and being a father figure to them. I remember him saying, “I have 15 sons.” That’s not the kind of coach who throws his boy under thue bus.

The reasons put up for his no-shows have ranged from fever to personal matters. I have heard other, worse stuff, but I digress to put it in print for not only is it detrimental to the school, but it is also detrimental to the whole team, Almazan’s immediate relatives, and you directly, big man, and it would be naught but fodder for tabloids. But what is the real deal? In parody of the famous line from Scooby Doo: Raymond Almazan, where are you? You got some work to do and the Knights badly need you.

Kevin Alas needs his reassurance under the basket. Mark Cruz is waiting for that outlet pass from an offensive rebound you corralled. Jam Cortes is waiting for his sidekick down low. Racal needs his box out buddy. Do you think you are merely a design in the grand plans of the Letran Knights, Raymond? Think again. You are one of the vital cogs in the machine. You are the backbone of the defense Letran prides itself on. Not only are you an insurance under the basket, you are the jumpstarter.

If you do not see my point big man, let’s put this in a game situation: you have Cortes and Racal on your side, with the trademark full court man-to-man pressure Coach Louie employs, Kevin Alas and Mark Cruz are up top, harrassing the ball carrier to the sides. Then the ball carrier decides to swing the ball to the middle, for he is cut off, while Racal or Cortes, depending on which side the ball is swung next, now proceed to force the new handler to the middle, funneling the player to you, who are waiting, with your impressive blocking instincts. You block the shot. Racal, or Cortes, who’s trailing the player he funneled to you, will then proceed to pick up your gem of a swat and it’s off to the races with the thoroughbreds in Mark Cruz and Kevin Alas, giving the team a sleek and easy deuce.

There you were, the ignition upon which this engine starts.

You are just there to block and rebound, you might say, with no chance to expand your offensive game? Think again.

You make the Knights run with your defense.

You are the backbone upon which the defense is set, a point I cannot reiterate much.

They may not know much about what you are going through right now, big man. Rumors can get nasty. However, I do believe Coach Louie when he says he still wants you back, he still wants you to be part of a team, a part of something special. He’s a father to 15 sons after all, and one who disciplines them for any wrong doing for he wants to see them lead a successful life on the court and off it.

The school you are in needs answers. The community demands you answer. The supporters of the team want you out there. What else needs to be done for you to finally show up, and prove to everyone that what they are thinking, what they are spreading, are wrong?

There’s nothing else I would like than for a basketball player to be freed on the hardcourt, and not relegated to gossip fodder. That’s probably the worst that can happen to anyone in any sport. And you, you are promising enough to give this school what they want. You can help the team give the school that coveted NCAA Championship.

Raymond Almazan, where are you? You got some work to do.

Follow the author through his Twitter, @PioStark.