Jamie Malonzo will make his long-awaited comeback for Barangay Ginebra after the team reactivated him for Sunday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against defending champion San Miguel.
The 28-year-old power forward was elevated in the active roster Friday instead of guard Jeremiah Gray.
Malonzo last played for the Kings on April 14, a year ago, in a 95-88 win over NorthPort during the Season 48 Philippine Cup.
He suffered a calf injury in the waning seconds of the game and has been out of commission ever since.
The Fil-Am player from De La Salle underwent surgery during the off-season, which will require him to miss the season-opener Governors’ Cup and Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA Olympic qualifier and the second window of the Asia Cup qualifying meet as he undergoes therapy and rehab.
However, he began practicing with Barangay Ginebra at the start of the second conference, and coach Tim Cone projected at least a January return for the former no. 2 overall pick.
His reactivation, however, doesn’t guarantee playing outright for Ginebra in its 7:30 p.m. encounter with San Miguel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum when action in the league resumes after the holiday break.
“He’s a game-time decision,” according to Cone.
Malonzo’s return, however, is a timely development for the Kings, who are on a two-game winning run before going on a 10-day respite.
Ginebra is running fifth with a 4-2 record, but it is coming off an inspiring 95-92 win over rival Magnolia in a Christmas Day game. It rallied back from a 22-point deficit before leaning on a Scottie Thompson game-winning three at the buzzer.