FILE– Gilas Pilipinas’ Jamie Malonzo. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas will nonetheless be lacking the providers of Ginebra star Jamie Malonzo for the second window of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers, coach Tim Cone confirmed on Wednesday.
In a press convention in Mandaluyong, Cone bared that Malonzo wouldn’t be capable of return in motion for the Fiba qualifying taking place in Manila resulting from his calf damage since April.
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“Jamie will not be out there[…] It’s been ‘sayang’ that we haven’t had him,” mentioned Cone.
READ: Gilas formally begins coaching camp for Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers
Moreover, the highest coach mentioned that earlier than Malonzo may don the Gilas jersey once more, he’d need to get his rhythm again for his mom staff Ginebra first.
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Cone is hoping that occurs for the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup.
“I believe Jamie must get again into the Ginebra lineup and get snug there (once more) earlier than he will get again into the Gilas lineup. Hopefully, that’ll occur throughout the subsequent month or two.
READ: Kouame again as Gilas releases 15-man pool for Fiba qualifiers
Even with a torn calf that Malonzo sustained earlier this yr, Cone emphasised that he’s nonetheless included within the nationwide staff’s pool.
Malonzo, in spite of everything, is an integral a part of Cone’s continuity plan with Gilas Pilipinas.
“He’s nonetheless very a lot an essential a part of the pool, solely as a result of he’s a kind of hybrid gamers who can play a number of positions and might defend a number of sorts of gamers,” Cone mentioned.
“He’s a man who can run out within the open courtroom and provides us a special really feel for the way we need to play if it’s essential to go uptempo or play the sport at the next tempo. He provides us that versatility and that’s why he’s so worthwhile to us.”