REJOINING Gilas Pilipinas is on Jamie Malonzo's bucket list for 2025.
As he got the go signal play again after recovering from calf surgery, the Fil-Am forward has put his return to the national team at the top of his priorities after being reactivated by Barangay Ginebra in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The calf injury that Malonzo sustained in April last year made him miss the Philippine Cup playoffs and the entire season-opening Governors’ Cup.
READ Jamie Malonzo's comeback with Ginebra will have to wait
It also forced him to skip the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers at home last November in which Gilas swept its two assignments against New Zealand and Hong Kong.
Although Gilas already qualified for the Asia Cup proper in Saudi Arabia later next year, it still has two remaining games on the road for the final window this February in Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.
And the February 20-23 window is something he can't afford to miss, according to the 6-foot-7 power forward.
"For sure, I can't miss two [Gilas windows] back-to-back. I want to be a part of it. Definitely," said Malonzo.
The former De La Salle star can start playing for Ginebra again after being elevated to the active roster on Saturday in time for the team’s first game of the year against reigning champion San Miguel.
Coach Tim Cone however, is tempering expectations on Malonzo, who has not played competitive basketball the past eight months.
“He’s a game-time decision,” said the Ginebra mentor of the Fil-Am big man.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
