BOCAUE — Jamie Malonzo admitted that a PBA championship was the first thing he thought of upon being informed that he’ll be traded to Ginebra.
The sophomore winger still remembers vividly how he received that one phone call a few months ago, and couldn’t help but dream big then. After all, he was about to be part of a powerhouse that’s been winning a title every season since 2016.
(C) PBA Images
“I remember it like yesterday,” he said.
“I was putting up shots at NorthPort and getting ready to play for a game on a Wednesday. I get a call, I remember Pido (coach Pido Jarencio) yelling, saying, ‘Take this phone call.’
“And man, it happened, I got here,” added the second overall pick of the 2021 Rookie Draft. “First thought was, definitely winning the chip.”
To see it turn into reality so soon, though, is something that Malonzo could hardly believe. On Sunday night, he won his first PBA ring after the Barangay drubbed Bay Area in a historic Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
“I didn’t know it’s gonna happen this soon,” he said moments after the 114-99 victory witnessed by 54,589 fans at the Philippine Arena here.
Nonetheless, the Seattle-raised cager felt ‘super blessed’ as those sleepless nights and countless prayers of his finally paid off.
“A lot of sleepless nights of praying for moments like this. I’m just super blessed this is happening,” he said.
“Surreal. Surreal, for sure.”
There’s no denying, too, that the title wasn’t solely a blessing from heaven as Malonzo did his part as well. The 26-year-old finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds, together with an assist, two steals, and two blocks.
“I left it all on the line tonight. Game Seven in my first Finals, so I just want to, you know, get the job done,” said the La Salle product.
Despite finally calling himself a PBA champ, Malonzo refuses to rest on his laurels, looking to bank on the gains of this conference moving forward.
“I still feel like I’m still growing. So much left to work on, so much to take on this off-season,” he said. “Break a couple of weeks. I just want to keep my foot on the gas. I just think I’m getting better every conference.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
