CHICAGO - Despite being tangled in a web of off-court issues heading into the ongoing 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, the men's basketball title defense of Gilas Pilipinas is doing well thus far.
Through two games at the Nimibutr Stadium, Gilas has vanquished Malaysia (83-58) last December 13 before disposing of Vietnam (78-67} two days later.
But after falling behind Malaysia at the end of the first quarter,22-16, and trailing Vietnam at the half, 41-37, it hasn't been smooth sailing.
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While coach Norman Black is pleased with the immaculate record, he cautioned about the slow starts as something the team may not "get away with" moving forward where the competition is expected to get tougher.
Still, there's plenty to be grateful for in the 12-man group that sacrificed their time and efforts in service of the country.
And one of those guys is Jamie Malonzo.
A DO-IT-ALL WING.
"He's super athletic and has done a great job for us," Black said of the 6-foot-7 forward, who logged a combined 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in the twin victories.
Considering that he hasn't played much since leaving the Japan B.League just weeks into his rookie season, you'd think the Fil-Am from Seattle would be leaking with so much rust particles on the court.
But nah. Save for some minor limitations in stamina, he has logged 59 minutes and 13 seconds of action without panting and feeling like a hot blow dryer was blasting inside his lungs.
"Honestly, I feel one-hundred percent healthy," he told me in a telephone interview after a team dinner on Tuesday night at the Hua Seng Hong restaurant at the MBK Center in Bangkok.
Asked if Thailand is the biggest obstacle to the gold medal-retention campaign, Jamie said they're not taking any team lightly, including Indonesia, which is next on the schedule.
But the former Ginebra star did offer a valuable insight on the Thais.
SCOUTING REPORT.
"Some of them play in the IBL and I don't really know their newer guys but their point guard can really score."
Jamie was referring to Freddie Lish, the 5-foot-9 playmaker who played Division 1 basketball in the US NCAA before going undrafted in the NBA in 2013.
The 37-year old Lish has an impressive resume that includes stops in Malaysia, Indonesia, Kosovo and Israel. He spent the 2025 season hooping for Hi-Tech Bangkok of the TBL where he averaged 21.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 14 games.
Lish is the head of the snake on a Thai national team that also parades 6-foot-4 Moses Morgan, a Japan B.League veteran.
If Malonzo's length and quickness are called upon to shadow and put a leash on Lish, Jamie's ready.
"I'm willing to do whatever the coaches want me to do. I'm always ready."
If this doesn't excite you for that inevitable Philippines versus Thailand duel, I don't know what will.
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