FILE–Gilas Pilipinas’ Jamie Malonzo. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Jamie Malonzo sat out Gilas Pilipinas’ game against Chinese Taipei after being under the weather, according to coach Tim Cone.
After Gilas’ 106-53 win in the 2023 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers at Philsports Arena on Sunday, Cone said Malonzo missed the game due to a medical issue.
“He’s sick. It’s a medical thing so I don’t want to talk too much about it,” said the Ginebra coach.
“Actually, he and Justin (Brownlee) were both sick coming home from Hong Kong and we were really afraid that neither of them would play but Justin bounced back. Jamie, we had to contemplate and bring him to the hospital. He’s down and out.”
National coach @manilacone on why Jamie Malonzo didn’t see action in the 106-53 rout of Chinese Taipei on Sunday night | @phildailyinq @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/eS4id9aOi6
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrdINQ) February 25, 2024
Despite the absence of Malonzo in the rotation, Gilas’ other wing players stepped up to give the Filipinos a 2-0 lead in the qualifiers.
Calvin Oftana took over the forward position with 13 points and five rebounds. Kevin Quiambao also came off the bench to play the role Malonzo left behind and finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
Cone, though, said Gilas still missed Malonzo’s presence in the last game of the first window. The Gin King scored 11 in Gilas’ previous game against Hong Kong, a few days prior.
“We sent our doctors to him but I think some guys just got severely dehydrated on the trip… We did miss him tonight, he was supposed to be part of the rotation.”
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