From Silence to “MVP”: Jamie Malonzo finds redemption in Gilas’ SEA Games gold run

When Jamie Malonzo stepped to the free-throw line late in the SEA Games gold-medal game, the noise told a story deeper than the scoreboard. As Gilas Pilipinas clung to a slim lead against host Thailand, a pocket of Filipino fans at Nimibutr Stadium erupted into chants of “MVP!” — a moment that felt less like praise for a single play and more like recognition of a long, winding journey finally coming full circle.

Malonzo made it count. He finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds as Gilas sealed a gritty 70–64 victory, reclaiming regional supremacy through toughness rather than flair. For a team stitched together through last-minute changes and dubbed “Team C” by circumstance, the gold medal symbolized collective resilience. For Malonzo, it meant something even more personal.

“I’m just so happy that we were able to get this one,” Malonzo said. “No matter where I am, no matter which team I play or representing the country, I will go as hard as I can.

“So bringing this gold back with my teammates means a lot.”

The SEA Games stage became an unlikely setting for renewal. Over the past two years, Malonzo’s career had been defined more by interruptions than momentum — a viral off-court incident, an untimely injury in garbage time, limited opportunities at the FIBA Asia Cup, and a brief B.League stint that never fully materialized. By the time Gilas was assembled, he was without a club and without certainty.

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‘IT REALLY FEELS GOOD TO WIN THIS FOR THE COUNTRY AND BRING BACK A GOLD NO MATTER WHAT IT TOOK’

Jamie Malonzo shares how much he wanted to bring gold to the Philippines in the men’s basketball event of the SEA Games 2025 in Thailand, despite setbacks with this year’s host rules. pic.twitter.com/gnlK4Sbj4f

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 20, 2025

Yet when coach Norman Black’s roster kept shifting, Malonzo remained. Not as a headline name, but as a piece capable of steadying a fragile structure.

His value first surfaced in the semifinals against Indonesia, where his physical defense on Derrick Michael Xzavierro helped Gilas escape with a 71–68 win. It was not glamorous work, but it tilted the margins. By the time the final arrived, Malonzo had become part of Gilas’ backbone — a defender willing to grind and a scorer ready when timing mattered most.

Even his gold-medal performance came quietly. Malonzo went scoreless in the first half, yet never disengaged. In the second half, he attacked the glass, made timely baskets, and anchored a defensive stand that slowly broke Thailand’s rhythm.

“I think I had zero points at halftime, but being able to bounce back from that and keep scratching. It was just about finding a way to win,” he said.

That mindset mirrored Gilas’ entire campaign — imperfect, undermanned, but stubbornly competitive. The gold medal was not just about talent asserting itself; it was about persistence outlasting doubt.

For Malonzo, Bangkok may serve as a turning point rather than a destination. Opportunities may come quickly or slowly, but for now, the forward is content to let the moment breathe.

“I’m just gonna enjoy this first, then go back to work.”

In a tournament shaped by adversity, Jamie Malonzo didn’t just play his way back into relevance — he reminded everyone, including himself, why belief still matters when the noise finally turns your way.

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