Gilas coach Tim Cone relieved as Jamie Malonzo avoids ACL

Gilas Pilipinas and Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone can now heave a sigh of relief as one his main gunners in Jamie Malonzo has been cleared of a major injury following a scare last Sunday.

The 27-year-old Malonzo hurt his left knee in the 4:20 mark of their Game 3 clash against San Miguel in the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals and never returned as the Gin Kings fell, 94-91, to exit the tournament.

Cone said following the loss that Malonzo will undergo an MRI for further assessment as fear of an ACL looms. Fortunately, the high-flying wing didn't suffer any major knee injury.

"We got some MRI results today and there was no structural damage," Cone said on Monday in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night.

"We’re so relieved [because] we were pretty sure it was gonna be ACL and the trainer tested the knee a little bit and it wasn’t firm so they were all suspecting it was an ACL."

The development also provided added relief for Cone, who was named the new Gilas Pilipinas head coach, as Malonzo was among the players he included in his 12-man roster for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers starting next month.

Cone said Malonzo can be back on court within 10 days as he joins other stars like June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, and teammates Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee. Completing the lineup are Japanese B. League imports Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kai Sotto alongside rising college star Kevin Quiambao. 

"He took the MRI and Dr. (George) Canlas took a look at the plates and good news is everything’s intact and he could be back within 10 days or something," Cone added.

"He could be available for the window."

Gilas will open the window on February 22 against Hong Kong before hosting Chinese Taipei on February 25.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News