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PBA: How Raymond Almazan is supporting players’ fight for racial equality

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Brian Yalung

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/sports/07/20/20200720-raymond-almazan.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Meralco big man Raymond Almazan says his current hairstyle is his way of supporting the fight for racial equality. Raymond Almazan Instagram</figcaption></figure></div>The past months has seen sports come to a grinding halt. Most were advised to stay at home to avoid possibly contracting the COVID-19 virus.PBA players were among the people who saw themselves with limited mobility. Most stayed at home and tried to keep in shape. For injured players such as Raymond Almazan of the Meralco Bolts, it was a chance to allow them to heal up.Almazan suffered a <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/13/20/pba-black-fears-almazan-out-for-rest-of-finals">knee injury</a> back in January during Game 3 of the PBA Governors&#x27; Cup Finals. But in an interview on &quot;Sports On Air&quot;, the former Letran Knight said that everything is going well and that he has fully recovered.&quot;May mga magandang benefits din kasi nakapagpagaling ako. Nakapagpagaling ako and at the same time nakapagpalakas ako ng legs,&quot; he said.Like most who were forced to forego haircuts and proper grooming, Almazan appeared with a different kind of hairstyle. Initially, it seemed like a result of barbershop or salon closures.Sporting a familiar hairstyle that most would immediately associate with his former PBA teammate Gabe Norwood, it turns out that 30-year-old was purposely growing his hair. It was Almazan&#x27;s way of supporting players with African-American lineage in their fight against racial discrimination. &quot; &#x27;Yung nangyari sa kanila, du&#x27;n nag-start &#x27;yung gusto ko magpahaba ng buhok. Kahit si Gabe di pa alam ito. Never ako nagpaganito ng buhok. First time ko lang ginawa to,&quot; he said.Tasked to guard foreign players in the PBA, Almazan said he has had his run-ins with imports, but it was never personal.&quot;Ako din kasi nagkaka-problema sa imports. Hindi naman ako against sa kanila. Pareho lang tayong tao, magkaiba lang kulay natin,&quot; he said.Further, Almazan acknowledged that sometimes he gets carried away when guarding foreign players on the court. However, what happens on the basketball court should stay there.&quot;Ako may mga pagkakamali din naman sa mga import dati. Napagsasabihan ko sila ng mga masasamanng bagay. Pero during the game lang naman &#x27;yun. At the end of the day, wala naman tayo dapat pinipili. Kaya du&#x27;n nag-start &#x27;yung sa buhok ko,&quot; he said.Having played with Fil-Ams through the years, Almazan has grown to understand their stories more. After spending time with guys such as Norwood and Maverick Ahanmisi among others, he realized that they were not different from local players who just wanted to lead a good life in the Philippines.&quot;Pinapakita ko lang support ko sa kanila. Kasi madami rin ako friends na Fil-Am. Parang tayo lang &#x27;yan. Gusto lang magandang buhay dito sa Pilipinas,&quot; Almazan said.If PBA games do resume, Almazan vowed he will not cut his hair. When asked whether this has made him taller, here is what he had to say.&quot;From 6-foot-9 naging 6-foot-10 na ako ngayon,&quot; Almazan said in jest.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

The Meralco big man says he has grown to understand the challenges facing Filipinos with African-American lineage.

The Meralco big man says he has grown to understand the challenges facing Filipinos with African-American lineage.