“We are certainly disappointed”: Tim Cone opens up on Jamie Malonzo leaving Barangay Ginebra

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) powerhouse Barangay Ginebra San Miguel has been dealt a major blow after it emerged on Thursday, July 31, that star forward Jamie Malonzo has left the franchise in a shock move.

Malonzo is taking his talents overseas to Japan after signing with B.League club Kyoto Hannaryz. The club announced Malonzo’s signing on its various social media platforms, stating:

“We are pleased to announce that a basic agreement has been reached for a player contract with Jamie Malonzo for the 2025–26 season. Jamie will join as an Asian special quota player.”

Barangay Ginebra and Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone spoke about the development upon hearing it in Jeddah, revealing that they had known about the player’s interest in playing in Japan, while admitting they are disappointed that Malonzo wanted to leave the franchise.

“We have known for a couple of years that Jamie had interest in playing in Japan, so it was not a big surprise. We are certainly disappointed Jamie wanted to leave Barangay Ginebra. But we are never going to hold back a player who wants to better his situation. We wish him well,” Cone told reporters.

GINEBRA NOT STOPPING JAMIE

While head coach Tim Cone admits disappointment over Jamie Malonzo’s move to Japan, he said they won’t hold back a player seeking to “better his situation.”

Read: https://t.co/POQTJSAyQZ pic.twitter.com/iZsMkmc8Wc

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 31, 2025

The move undoubtedly came as a surprise to Barangay Ginebra’s management, considering Malonzo signed a new two-year deal with the team in October 2023 — and especially considering the players they gave up to acquire him from NorthPort Batang Pier in a three-team trade in 2022 that also involved San Miguel. Barangay Ginebra parted ways with Arvin Tolentino, Jeff Chan, Prince Caperal, and Kent Salado to complete the deal.

The 29-year-old spent three years with Barangay Ginebra, helping the team win the 2022–23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup and reach the Finals on three other occasions. Malonzo has played a total of 138 games in the PBA across his stints with NorthPort and Barangay Ginebra.

Notably, Barangay Ginebra stood by Malonzo when he tore his calf muscle during the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals on March 10, 2024, which forced him to miss almost a year of action after undergoing surgery. It’s fair to say that he repaid the faith shown in him by the team’s management, averaging 11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in the 37 appearances he made on his return from injury.

Malonzo is currently part of Cone’s Gilas Pilipinas squad for the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, and he will see action on Saturday, August 2, when they face Jordan in a tune-up game.

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