INTERIM Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone hinted Jamie Malonzo may not make the men’s national team lineup for the Hangzhou Asian Games, no thanks to a hurting back he suffered during the FIBA World Cup group phase.
Cone said he personally talked to his Barangay Ginebra player Wednesday and the conversation wasn't positive.
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“It looks like he will beg off from the Asian Games,” said the 65-year-old Cone of Malonzo, who was part of the Gilas lineup submitted by the Philippine Olympic Committee to Asiad organizers. “He still has a lot of soreness (in his body).”
The Fil-Am forward had a bad fall during Gilas’ game against South Sudan which it lost, 87-68. Malonzo finished with four points in the loss that denied the country a shot at qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
Due to his hurting back, the high-flying forward out of La Salle sat out the team’s 96-75 win over China in its last outing in the World Cup.
A check with long-time national team physical therapist Dexter Aseron said Malonzo suffered a bruised hip and tailbone.
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