JAMIE Malonzo got a much-needed warm-up as he braces for his first PBA Finals appearance in two years.
The fit-again power forward played a huge role in Barangay Ginebra’s thrashing of top seed Northport in the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals - a stint that prepares him for the Kings’ coming title series against the TNT Tropang Giga.
Coming off a calf surgery that kept him sidelined for almost nine months, Malonzo returned to active duty starting this year and quickly made an impact for the Kings, averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in the 12 games that he played.
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But he really made his presence felt in the semis, norming a team second-best 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists as the Kings made short work of the Batang Pier in just five games in the best-of-seven series.
And the former La Salle stalwart believes the match-up against his former team was just the perfect preparation going to the finals opposite TNT.
“I feel good in this (Northport) series. Northport likes to run so I was able to get my breath, lose some pounds, and yeah, it was good to get a wind out there and just prepare for the finals,” said Malonzo.
He likewise shot the ball well, giving him added confidence going into a tough matchup against TNT.
“I’m shooting the ball really well. It’s got to be over 50-60 (percent) somewhere up there high. That’s always good going to a tough match-up like this. I just hope I could keep it up, to be honest,” Malonzo added.
TNT gains upperhand
The 6-foot-7 Fil-Am has not been in the finals since the 2023 Governors’ Cup Finals when TNT dethroned Justine Brownlee and the Kings in six games.
The two teams had a rematch in the season-opening conference where the Tropang Giga retained their title after another six-game series against the Kings.
Malonzo by then, sat haplessly on the bench as he recovered from his calf injury.
“I want to play really bad. It’s always tough, but just being able to sit on the bench, you can see where you can impact the game,” he said of the experience of watching his team from the sidelines being beaten by the Tropang Giga.
Given another shot at the same team that has beat Ginebra in the finals twice in a row, Malonzo thinks the Kings have a better chance this time around, with him and fellow Fil-am Jeremiah Gray back in harness and recent acquisition Troy Rosario adding ceiling and muscle in the frontcourt.
“I think once you put these pieces together, I think we got a good shot at competing for a title, hopefully,” he said.
The finals kicks off on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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