Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Jamie Malonzo is headed to the Japan B.League to play for Kyoto Hannaryz. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Jamie Malonzo, in a stunning move, has left Barangay Ginebra to join the Kyoto Hannaryz of Japan’s B.League.
The Japanese club made the announcement on social media on Thursday, the same day Malonzo celebrated his 29th birthday.
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Malonzo is currently settling in with Gilas Pilipinas in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to begin final preparations for next week’s Fiba Asia Cup. He was selected by Gilas coach Tim Cone, now his ex-Ginebra mentor, into the final 12.
His move came after signing a two-year deal with Ginebra in October 2023.
Malonzo is coming off a PBA campaign that saw him return from a calf injury he sustained in the 2024 Philippine Cup.
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After missing the season-opening Governors’ Cup, Malonzo finally saw action during the eliminations of the Commissioner’s Cup in January and had been part of Cone’s rotation until Ginebra’s semifinal loss to San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Cup.
Kyoto is in the West division of the B.League and went 33-27 during the 2024-25 season.
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But the Hannaryz, who once had Phoenix star Matthew Wright as their Asian import, missed the playoffs.
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AloJapan.com