No Gilas Pilipinas stint yet for Raymond Almazan

Rain or Shine center Raymond Almazan would have to wait another time for an opportunity to be part of Gilas Pilipinas.

The 6-foot-9 big man was overjoyed to receive an invitation last December, with head coach Tab Baldwin personally informing him of plans to include him in the training pool.

On Monday night's Gilas practice, however, Baldwin said the Elasto Painters' management is not yet ready to lend Almazan to the national team.

"They're not prepared to release him, and as I said, we fully understand that," he said.

The American-Kiwi coach said he is "sympathetic" to Rain or Shine's plight in the ongoing PBA season, with Paul Lee missing a lot of games due to injury and the team struggling a bit in the Commissioner's Cup.

Baldwin said he also appreciates having Almazan's teammates Lee, Jeff Chan, and Gabe Norwood in the national team pool and the management's willingness to lend them to the Gilas program.

"It's a very big demand for four players from one PBA team to be given up for even one night a week practice," he said.

"We have to understand that we're asking an awful lot, and they have answered that call significantly, so let's be happy with that," he added.

But the 57-year-old mentor said the door will remain open for Almazan, saying that the lanky 26-year-old "has a future in Gilas."

"His day will come, I'm sure of it. I think his day will come sooner rather than later. And we will welcome that time when it comes," he said.

Gilas Pilipinas has assembled a 17-man pool in preparation for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July. — RSJ, GMA News