Raymond Almazan, Don Trollano, and CJ Perez with their families. Photos from Lieza Camaya Almazan/Instagram; Patricia Palacol/Facebook; and CJ Perez/Instagram

Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA – Basketball players might be fierce competitors inside the court, but some of them are also caring fathers outside.</p><p>2024 PBA Philippine Cup finalists Raymond Almazan of the Meralco Bolts, Don Trollano and CJ Perez of the San Miguel Beermen took some time to share their stint not about being a baller, but as respective fathers of their families as the country celebrates Father&#x27;s Day on Sunday.</p><p>Perez, Trollano, and Almazan gave similar answers: they draw inspiration from their children and they wish the best for them.</p><p>Almazan, a father to Rayl Jacob and Raylie Joaquin, said having a child changed him entirely, including his lifestyle.</p><p>&quot;Can&#x27;t explain it kasi it changed everything, &#x27;yung pananaw mo sa buhay, &#x27;yung mga ginagawa mo lagi hindi mo na pwede gawin kasi may anak ka,&quot; Almazan told ABS-CBN News.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/14/maliksi-stars-as-meralco-inches-closer-to-first-pba-crown-1933"><strong>READ: Maliksi stars as Meralco inches closer to first PBA crown</strong></a></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718448324450IMG_2024_06_15_183807495.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><p>The Meralco big man wishes them to be basketball players like their father.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m happy kasi may dalawa akong boy na anak, at least merong magtutuloy nung paglalaro ng basketball. Sana, maging hilig nila &#x27;yong basketball,&quot; said Almazan.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/15/meralco-s-trillo-glad-to-face-quality-team-san-miguel-in-pba-finals-1631"><strong>READ: Meralco&#x27;s Trillo glad to face &#x27;quality team&#x27; San Miguel in PBA Finals</strong></a></div><p>The 34-year-old veteran also said he and his wife waited for five years for their first child.</p><p>&quot;Happy kasi ang tagal naming hinintay &#x27;yung first baby namin, parang mga five years. So, so happy nung [meron na].&quot;</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/15/june-mar-fajardo-vows-to-bounce-back-in-game-6-1440"><strong>READ: &#x27;Hindi pa naman kami out&#x27;: Fajardo vows to bounce back in Game 6</strong></a></div><p>Almazan&#x27;s dream for them? To be healthy and God-fearing: &quot;Lumaki silang malusog, may takot sa Diyos, magalang, siyempre [maging] mabait.&quot;</p><div><img id="isPasted" src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17184485774131718448595155.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><p>Meanwhile, San Miguel&#x27;s Trollano asserted that having kids is a &quot;happiness&quot; but acknowledged the difficulties of raising them.</p><p>&quot;Happiness &#x27;yung kids, eh &#x27;di ba. &#x27;Pag may anak ka, masaya. At the same time, siyempre mahirap, kasi being a father is mahirap talaga eh. Gagabayan mo sila hanggang paglaki. Kailangan, attitude nila maganda. &#x27;Yun nga &#x27;yung pinakamahirap, &#x27;pag lumalaki na sila, kailangan nando&#x27;n ka talaga sa tabi nila to guide them,&quot; said Trollano, pop of Bryce and Caleb.</p><p>Meanwhile, Perez, dad of Ciana and Teyana, said he&#x27;s working hard because of his family.</p><p>&quot;Motivation talaga [&#x27;yung mga kids], and my family, siyempre, my wife, my kids, siyempre I&#x27;m working hard because of them. As a father, gusto ko sila maging maayos sa buhay and magpakabait and siyempre I love them.&quot;</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1718448409571IMG_2024_06_15_183640798.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/12/san-miguel-evens-finals-with-game-4-win-over-meralco-2148"><strong>READ: PBA Finals: San Miguel evens series with Game 4 win over Meralco</strong></a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/12/june-mar-fajardo-is-best-player-of-2024-pba-philippine-cup-1919"><strong>READ: June Mar Fajardo is Best Player of 2024 PBA Philippine Cup</strong></a></div><p>Their teams, San Miguel and Meralco are duking it out in the PBA finals, with the Bolts leading the best-of-seven series, 3-2.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KiOjJNzyA-0??si=S3yxq-B8esYGnH_K&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" width="640"></iframe></div>

<p>Basketball players might be fierce competitors inside the court, but some of them are also caring fathers outside.</p>

Basketball players might be fierce competitors inside the court, but some of them are also caring fathers outside.

Happy Father's Day! Almazan, Trollano, Perez draw inspiration from their children | ABS-CBN

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Happy Father's Day! Almazan, Trollano, Perez draw inspiration from their children

Happy Father's Day! Almazan, Trollano, Perez draw inspiration from their children

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 16, 2024 06:20 AM PHT

Read More:

abssports

basketball

Father's Day

PBA

PBA Philippine Cup

Meralco Bolts

San Miguel Beermen

Raymond Almazan

Don Trollano

CJ Perez

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