The cat’s out of the bag: Veteran gunner Almond Vosotros was headed to Japan after all . . . for a vacation with his family.
He was all set, in fact, when the TNT Tropang 5G came calling, according to Chot Reyes.
“Meron na siyang vacation to Japan. Nabili na ‘yung ticket, na-book na ‘yung hotel with his whole family—his wife and his two kids—and he gave it up. Kinansel niya ‘yun just to have this opportunity This is really a big sacrifice for him, and we’re very thankful,” Reyes told reporters after TNT waylaid the NorthPort Batang Pier on Friday for their fifth straight win in the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup.
Giving up a family vacation to Japan is hard enough. But so is giving up an answered prayer. So, the 35-year-old point guard chose the latter.
“Since nawala ko sa TNT, naging mas motivated ako na ‘wag ko pabayaan sarili ko, kasi anytime baka may tumawag sa akin. ‘Yung nga ‘yung lagi ko pinagpe-pray na sana mabigyan ako ng second chance… ayoko na sayangin ‘yung opportunity,” Vosotros said.
It also helped that the two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist had been staying ready all this time, working out at Anytime Fitness and practicing his jumper at a nearby court. Now, he’s got a shot for an extended stint for the Grand Slam-seeking Tropa.
Almond Vosotros Fills a Need at TNT
It turns out, Vosotros playing for the Tropang 5G likely won’t be a one-off. TNT is razor-thin at the point guard spot, with Jayson Castro out for an extended period, Rey Nambatac sidelined for two to three more weeks due to a groin injury, and Jielo Razon out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for appendicitis.
“We know that we would need him here because we lost Jielo Razon due to appendicitis. He underwent surgery last week and naubos na ‘yung mga point guard namin… We figured Almond would be a big help, so we’re very thankful for him,” Reyes pointed out.
It just so happened that Vosotros’s return came against a team that Reyes describes as playing good zone defense—and it factored in on TNT’s decision to rehire the gunslinger originally drafted by the Blackwater Bossing in the 2015 PBA Draft. And he didn’t disappoint.
“The thing with Almond is that he needs very little warm-up. Makapal kasi mukha nito e, kaya hindi niya kelangan ng warm-up, hindi siya nahihiya, and he’ll really let it fly,” Reyes joked.
Well, Vosotros did let it fly against NorthPort, going off for three triples in the Tropa’s decisive 32-14 second quarter blitz that saw them turn a slim two-point lead after one to a 52-32 advantage going into halftime. And that was all she wrote for TNT, whose fifth straight win has the team in great position for a top four slot and the twice-to-beat advantage it affords.
Chances are, Almond Vosotros will be helping TNT shoot for that, too, and possibly that prestigious championship treble that has only been accomplished five times in PBA history.
Not bad for an answered prayer, no?
