ANTIPOLO — Jamie Malonzo is just glad to have finally played his first game back after the flu threw a monkey wrench on plans for an earlier return.
The 6-foot-7 winger was supposed to play for Ginebra during their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup match versus NorthPort last Wednesday.
However, the illness – which he got from the ‘flu bug’ that bit others in the team – stood in the way.
Instead, he made his much-awaited comeback on Sunday night, in the Barangay’s eventual rout of Blackwater at the Ynares Center here.
“Originally, I was supposed to play against NorthPort,” Malonzo told reporters moments after their 86-63 victory for win no. 6 in nine outings.
Coach Tim Cone was actually the first who disclosed that plan and the young pro himself would’ve wanted to make his season debut versus the very same team he last played against before being out for several months.
For starters, the 28-year-old last played on April 14 of last year in a 95-88 victory against the Batang Pier – his ex-team – at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
It was in that game where his left leg gave way with only 5.3 seconds left to play, and would soon be ruled out of the season as he suffered a calf injury.
(C) PBA Images
“That was the team I got injured to, so that would’ve been a better story,” said Malonzo, who also missed some FIBA tournaments with Gilas.
But it actually turned out better for him. Ginebra reigned victorious against the skidding Bossing to bounce back from that narrow loss to the conference-leading NorthPort, giving him as well a triumphant comeback.
“I missed a couple of practices due to sickness and I was able to come back today. I’m OK with coming back today. It worked out for me,” he said.
Malonzo did his part as well in the win, tallying eight points, three rebounds, and a steal in nearly 11 minutes off the bench – a performance highlighted by a two-handed slam for the exclamation point to their third-quarter pullaway.
“To be honest, I was nervous for myself at first,” he said of that dunk. “But then, after I was in the air, I was like, ‘OK, it’s gonna go in.’ It turned out OK.”
Now, it’s all about regaining his old form for the high-flying Malonzo – and getting used to his more bulked-up physique.
“That was my first game, maybe it might take some time. But honestly, I felt great out there,” the former De La Salle Green Archer said.
“I probably could’ve played more. They have me on minute restrictions. It’s a little while. But I’mma be working on getting back to regular minutes. I felt great.”
