Jamie Malonzo did the dirty work in Gilas Pilipinas hard-earned win over Indonesia in the semifinals of the SEA Games 2025 in Thailand.
Jamie Malonzo admitted that there were doubts about whether he would see minutes in Gilas’ Pilipinas do-or-die semifinal tiff against Indonesia in the SEA Games 2025 on Thursday, Dec. 18.
"I actually didn’t know if I was going to play today. That’s why I didn’t start,” Malonzo said.
[RELATED STORY: GILAS SCHEDULE | Philippine basketball at SEA Games 2025]
In the Filipino dribblers' first two games, Malonzo did not exactly make a noise.
That changed on Thursday.
[RELATED STORY: Gilas Pilipinas, Thailand battle for basketball supremacy in SEA Games finals]
Malonzo injected life into Gilas’ defense on its way to a thrilling 71-68 win over the Indonesians at the Nihibutr Stadium in Thailand.
“Just grinding it out to get the win,” Malonzo said shortly after Gilas advanced to the gold medal match against Thailand.
[RELATED STORY: SEA Games: Thirdy Ravena lauds Jamie Malonzo in Gilas' win vs Indonesia]
Malonzo is on a redemption arc after mutually parting ways with Kyoto Hannaryz in the Japan B.LEAGUE.
He returned to the country to join the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ first window but did not make the Final 12.
His quiet but impactful play in Thailand serves as a reminder that he is a high-caliber player, whom his teammate Thirdy Ravena described as the X factor in Gilas' victory against Indonesia.
Malonzo punched in 13 points, three rebounds, five steals and a block for the Nationals, who recovered from a slow start and doused Indonesia’s late uprising.
Expect the former Ginebra winger to do that and more when Gilas tackles Thailand, with everything on the line.
“To come out there and give effort for the Philippines fighting, trying to get that gold. The next game is going to mean everything,” Malonzo said.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.