YOUNG ‘UNS STAR IN ALL-STAR BLITZ GAME
Old teammates revive their amateur days on Friday as the league’s upstarts clash in this year’s Rookies vs. Sophomores Blitz Game.
Without Greg Slaughter and Ian Sangalang for the second-year players, Raymond Almazan is expected to lead the sophomores in this tiff. And the Rain or Shine center just cannot not hide his disappointment.
“Mas masaya sana kung andun din sa team Greg at Ian para makapag-bonding din kami at magkakila-kilala,” Almazan said. “Pero ganun talaga eh. Just for fun yun at para sa fans na rin. Ang importante, mapasaya natin ang mga tao.”
But Almazan will be facing off against a familiar face in Kevin Alas, a teammate of his back in their college days in Letran.
Alas, the second pick in last year’s draft, said that the rookies will be ready against the formidable frontline for the sophomores.
“Guard-oriented kami so mas makakatakbo kami laban sa kanila,” Alas said.
Though Manny Pacquiao won’t be able to join the league’s neophytes, the rookies will be banking on familiarity, as Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Ronald Pascual, Jake Pascual, and Anthony Semerad all teamed up before in the D-League with the old NLEX franchise.
“Excited ako. We’re there to give the fans enjoyment din,” said Alas.
Ganuelas-Rosser butted in, saying, “It will be fun. I’m just looking to have a good time with those guys and reconnect.”
As much as the players are there to have fun, Almazan warned the rookies that at the end of the day, this is still a game.
“Pag dumating na sa ganung punto, di kami magpapatalo. Pagdating ng fourth quarter, diinan na yun,” he said. (RL)
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