IT’S one hell of a task, but Jamie Malonzo certainly welcomes the challenge.
In what could be his biggest assignment yet since returning from surgery, the high-flying forward said he’s ready to embrace role as the possible Rondae Hollis-Jefferson stopper in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals between Barangay Ginebra and TNT.
Malonzo admitted it’s going to be a difficult task taking on the defensive end the import he considered among the best to have played in the 49-year-old play-for-pay league.
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But for someone who’s competitive in nature, he said it’s a matchup that is going to be fun.
“I’m a competitor, so playing against the best talent, obviously Rondae is probably – I said this a few years ago – one of the best imports the PBA has seen in a long time. So it’s always fun to be playing against such a type of competition, such type of level of play," he said.
“Yes it’s a challenge, but that’s where you want to be.”
Malonzo, 28, will definitely have his hands full against the 29-year-old Hollis-Jefferson, the former NBA first round draft pick and two-time Best Import of TNT which guided the franchise to back-to-back Governors’ Cup championships.
In TNT’s five-game series against Rain or Shine, the import averaged 28.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals.
He was lethal in the 97-92 close-out game against the Elasto Painters, finishing with an all-around game of 42 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three blocked shots.
For the conference, Hollis-Jefferson, who suited up for Brooklyn, Toronto, and Portland in the NBA, he normed 28.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks, making him the favorite again to run away with the Best Import plum.
Malonzo just returned to active duty at the start of the year after being sidelined for close to nine months following calf surgery.
He appeared back in full strength in Ginebra’s semifinals series against Northport, emerging as the best local scorer for the Kings with an average of 17.6 points to go along 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Since undergoing surgery, the De La Salle alum said he bulked up a bit on a bid to strengthen both his legs.
“I gained 20 pounds which I thought was useful in international play. So I just added extra weight. It’s always nice to have it when you’re playing strong guys like Rondae himself. He might be skinny and all, but he’s stronger than he looks. So it’s always nice to have that extra bounce,” he said.
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