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Tim Cone says Jamie Malonzo needs to return to the Barangay Ginebra lineup first before he suits up for Gilas Pilipinas again
MANILA, Philippines – Jamie Malonzo will remain on the sidelines as Gilas Pilipinas defends its turf in the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Tim Cone, who also coaches Malonzo at Barangay Ginebra in the PBA, said the high-flying forward will not be lined up for the Philippines’ home games against New Zealand and Hong Kong on November 21 and 24, respectively.
“Jamie is not available,” said Cone in a press conference on Wednesday, November 14.
“I think that Jamie needs to get back into the Ginebra lineup and get comfortable there before he gets back into the Gilas lineup, and hopefully, that’ll happen within the next month or two.”
Malonzo has been out of action since he sustained a calf injury in April, missing the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July.
He also sat out the entire PBA Governors’ Cup, unable to help Ginebra as it fell to TNT in the finals for the second straight edition.
The fact that Cone included Malonzo in the 15-man pool, though, showed the 6-foot-7 standout is still an integral part of the program.
“[H]e’s one of those hybrid players. He can play multiple positions, can defend multiple types of players, and also is a guy who can get out in the open court and give us a different feel for how we want to play if it’s necessary for us to up-tempo and play the game at a higher pace,” said Cone.
“So he gives us that versatility and that’s why he’s so valuable to us.”
Aside from Malonzo, Gilas might miss the services of big men Kai Sotto and AJ Edu.
Edu sustained another knee injury, while Sotto got put under concussion protocols as they both were hurt on November 9 during their respective Japan B. League games.
But Malonzo, Sotto, and Edu will all join the national team in its training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna starting on Friday, November 15. – Rappler.com
