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‘No one feels worse about not playing him than me,’ says Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone as Jamie Malonzo remains the only player who has yet to see action in the FIBA Asia Cup
MANILA, Philippines – Fans’ request to see Jamie Malonzo finally play for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, fell on deaf ears.
Head coach Tim Cone, though, said “his time will come.”
Malonzo missed action for the third straight game even as the Philippines scored a 66-57 win over Iraq on Saturday, August 9, to advance to the qualification to the quarterfinals.
The high-flying forward is the only player from the 12-man lineup who has yet to get floor time as he also sat out the back-to-back losses to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.
Cone compared Malonzo to Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics star who barely saw action when Team USA won the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a team that featured future Hall of Famers LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, Tatum — a four-time All-NBA First Team member — found himself riding the bench.
“Jamie is our Jayson Tatum. It’s hard playing all 12 players with this much talent on the team and no one feels worse about not playing him than me,” Cone told Rappler through a message.
“But all 12 guys are committed to each other and Jamie is showing great professionalism in handling his role.”
Filipinos at the King Abdullah Sports City on Saturday made it known that they want to witness Malonzo on the court as they chanted his surname in the fourth quarter.
But Malonzo remained on the bench even as Gilas Pilipinas enjoyed a double-digit lead inside the final six minutes.
“He’s been very supportive of his teammates and the goals that we have. His time will come,” said Cone.
Malonzo, who also played under Cone at Barangay Ginebra in the PBA, left the Gin Kings after signing with the Kyoto Hannaryz of the Japan B. League before the Asia Cup started.
He can make his Asia Cup debut as the Philippines, which finished third in Group D, shoots for a spot in the quarterfinals against the Group C second placer. – Rappler.com
