A PBA comeback is not an option for Jamie Malonzo.
The PBA Commissioner's Office confirmed Malonzo is among the first to be covered by the three-year ban on PBA players who leave for other leagues even though they have offers for contract renewals from their mother teams.
Commissioner Willie Marcial made the confirmation on Friday after news leaked out that the former Barangay Ginebra high-flyer was released by the Kyoto Hannaryz just five games into their season in the Japan B.League.
READ Malonzo's B.League contract terminated by Kyoto Hannaryz
"Yes, kasama s'ya sa mga unang naapektuhan ng ban," Marcial told SPIN.ph. "Kaya nga ang wish ko sa mga dati nating players na pumunta sa mga ibang liga, sana man lang may kontrata sila ng three years o makalaro ng three years."
The 6-7 Malonzo left Barangay Ginebra at the end of his contract in July but his B.League career never took off, averaging only 1.2 points and 1.0 rebound in 6.2 minutes of play as Kyoto started off the season with a single win in five games.
Although his PBA signing rights still belong to Ginebra, the new rule will keep the Fil-Am forward from returning to the Kings until at least Season 53 of the pro league.
The former La Salle star, however, is still free to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the coming Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers in Novembers and can look for other options in Korea, Chinese Taipei or the Japan B.League itself.
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.
