THE line of communication is slowly opening up for Raymund Almazan and Rain or Shine.
And one thing has become clear - a crack in Almazan's relationship with coach Caloy Garcia has something to do with his disappearance.
Almazan's representative Danny Espiritu sat down with Rain or Shine board representative Atty. Mamerto Mondragon on Monday to talk about the sudden disappearance of the 6-foot-8 center recently that made him miss the team's last three games in the PBA Governors Cup.
Espiritu however, kept mum on what transpired during the meeting. He said Almazan and Mondragon are also set to sit down to talk.
"Mag-uusap pa si Raymund and Atty. Mondragon para they can directly say kung anu-ano ba ang plano nila," said Espiritu without touching on the issue of Almazan becoming incommunicado with the team the past two weeks both in games and practices.
But a person close to the national player pointed to the constant disagreement between Almazan and Garcia as the main reason for him not showing up.
Almazan went 'Missing In Action' even to his family since Oct. 3 and didn't go home until Sunday night.
The source was just as perplexed on why the working relationship of Almazan and Garcia turned sour of late, considering the two had been together since their days with Letran.
It was during Garcia's time as Knights coach that Almazan was adjudged NCAA MVP as the team went to the finals but lost to San Beda.
Coach Yeng Guiao even disclosed it was Garcia who convinced him to tab Almazan as Rain or Shine's No. 3 pick in the 2013 draft since he knows the native of Orion, Bataan very well.
Almazan also went 'MIA' during the 2012 NCAA season under coach Louie Alas, but resurfaced during the second round of the eliminations to help the Knights reach the Final Four.