Jamie Malonzo figured in a brawl at a fast food chain in Bonifacio Global City hours before Gilas Pilipinas’ homestand against Chinese-Taipei on Sunday.
Moments prior to the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers game, a video circulated on social media channels showing that the 6-foot-5 winger of Ginebra was embroiled in a scuffle at a KFC restaurant.
A day after the game, it was not only confirmed to Tiebreaker Times that it was Malonzo but also who he figured in a melee with – a practicing mixed martial artist.
According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation, Malonzo had excused himself from the qualifiers game due to gastral pain.
Gilas were checked in at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas.
After getting excused, Malonzo went to BGC to grab a few drinks at Dr. Wine before heading to the said restaurant.
It was there where he figured in a brawl with the alleged martial artist.
Malonzo has since apologized to the Philippine Basketball Association and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for the incident.
After Gilas’ win, Gilas head coach Tim Cone said that Malonzo, along with Justin Brownlee, had already been sick moments after Gilas’ road game against Hong Kong.
Brownlee suited up against Chinese-Taipei.
“We contemplated bringing him to the hospital. He’s that down and out,” Cone said.
“We sent our doctors over to him and put him on IV, but I think maybe some of the guys just got dehydrated severely on the trip and we didn’t hydrate well after that. And I’ve got to be more cognizant of that, making sure that the guys are doing that better.”
