Keep on truckin’ simply means to stay persistent. But "Keep on Truckin’" is also a 1973 hit song by former Temptations member Eddie Kendricks.
Jamie Malonzo scored a career-best 29 points in the crucial win of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings over the Converge FiberXers on Sunday. Thanks to the high-flying forward, Ginebra gained a 7-2 record and a couple of chances at clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs. Malonzo has been playing fantastic basketball both with Gilas Pilipinas and Team NSD as of late.
After the game, the former De La Salle Green Archer was asked how he’s been coping with the tough schedule of playing for the national squad in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers and then returning to the PBA. That’s a total of four games in seven days for the athletic wing.
“Coach [Tim Cone] has this little saying right now, just keep one truckin.’ We’ve been having a lot of games going, and we just want to keep on truckin,’ keep it going.”
Apparently, the secret to staying resilient is to just gut it out—at least for the 6-foot-6 forward. Just last month, he had his best scoring performance in the PBA dropping 28 on the NorthPort Batang Pier. Against Lebanon and Jordan, he averaged 13 points and 5 boards. So, what’s next for Malonzo?
Fans can only wait and see. Or maybe, wait for Coach Tim’s next mantra that will fuel Jamie’s fire.