Right now, Jamie Malonzo is serving a three-year ban from the PBA after refusing to sign with his mother team despite an offer and inking a deal in the Japan B.LEAGUE instead. The new rule, which isn’t retroactive, affects him and William Navarro.
Is there a chance Jamie Malonzo can make a PBA comeback?
Such was the question that flooded social media following Malonzo’s exit from Kyoto Hannaryz in the Japan B.League after just five games.
But PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is firm on enforcing the new rule banning for thee years players who signed with another league despite a contract offer from their mother teams.
The new rule, which isn’t retroactive, is applicable to Malonzo and William Navarro, who also left Magnolia for the Korean Basketball League before Season 50 unfurled.
Ginebra holds Malonzo’s rights.
“May ruling 'yun. Three years. ‘Yun nga 'yung sinasabi namin sa kanila, kailangan anuhin niyo 'yung kontrata niyo para mas maging [pabor] din sa inyo--para sa inyo rin 'yung three years eh,” Marcial told some members of the PBA Press Corps minutes before the sendoff for Gilas Pilipinas on Monday, November 24.
“So, naka-ban siya. Hindi siya makakalaro within three years. Ang inabutan nun, si Jamie at si (William) Navarro. 'Yung dalawa na 'yun ang naabutan. Kaya nga sinasabi ko sa players, pag-isipan niyo para maayos.”
In an Instagram story last October, Malonzo expressed his desire to continue finding a new home in Japan.
[RELATED STORY: Jamie Malonzo seeking to continue Japan B.LEAGUE career after quick exit from Kyoto]
But should he decide to really return to Ginebra despite still serving the multi-year ban, Marcial said there’s a way to do that.
However, that’s up to the league’s Board of Governors.
“Sa akin, firm 'yun. Pero depende pa rin sa governors. Appealable naman lahat 'yan eh. Depende pa rin sa governors,” he 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.