With PBA option out, where's Jamie Malonzo headed next?

CHICAGO – It wasn’t the dreaded 13th, but this Friday proved to be fraught with misfortune for Jamie Malonzo.

In a stunning, unexpected move, the Kyoto Hannaryz cut ties with the former Gilas Pilipinas soldier and abruptly ending, at least for now, the Fil-Am’s much-anticipated Japan B.League journey.

So, what happened?

Through a social media post. Malonzo attributed the mutual parting of ways to injuries other than his.

“The team’s been dealing with injuries and wants to strengthen their frontcourt. I’m 100 percent healthy and ready to continue the season.”

Unfortunately for Jamie. his output didn’t quite match his hype coming in: Just 1.5 points and 1.0 rebound per in five games while logging a total of 30 minutes.

SUB PAR?

This doesn’t mean Malonzo isn’t good enough for the Japan B.League. This only means he never got a chance to show what he can do because six minutes a game doesn’t allow that.

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“It’s probably just a bad fit,” a Fiba-accredited agent with clients in the B.League told me on Friday night.

Last July, Malonzo inked a two-year deal that pays around $20,000 a month. And while contracts are generally guaranteed in Japan, the B.League has evolved in a way where buy-out friendly clauses are in place to protect teams from financial harm while changing imports.

Jamie Malonzo has yet to see action for Gilas in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup.

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“That could be the case here. Jamie probably got bought out and may have already found a landing spot to arrive at after a courtesy grace period lapses,” the agent said.

In other words, this could just be just an inconvenient bend, not the end of the road for the 29-year-old.

THE ABRA WEAVERS ARE CALLING.

After being sidelined for nine months following a lower leg injury, Malonzo came back with some vengeance in the 2024 Philippine Cup where he averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 13 games.

He did struggle with his shot, just 27.7 percent from 3 and 39.3 percent overall.

Apparently, that rusty rifle hasn’t been completely cleaned and oiled since announcing a move to the Land of the Rising Sun last July.

But all Jamie needs is playing time.