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| Jamie Malonzo was spared from any injury that would sideline him for a long period according to his head coach. Dennis Acosta (file photo) |
MANILA—Jamie Malonzo will likely return to practice very soon as coach Tim Cone shared the good news that the high-flying forward did not suffer a major injury when he hurt his left knee on Sunday night.
According to Cone, the MRI results did not show any structural damage to his injured knee.
Malonzo suffered a non-contact knee injury with 4:20 left in the third quarter and had to be carried back to the Ginebra bench by his teammates.
Malonzo never returned to the game, and he witnessed the Gin Kings falling prey to the San Miguel Beermen that completed a 3-0 sweep of their PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinal series in front of 15,126 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Cone said that everyone at the Ginebra camp honestly thought Malonzo tweaked his ACL, but luckily, upon confirmation from renowned sports doctor Raul Canlas, it was not the case.
Cone, also the Gilas Pilipinas head coach, then said that Malonzo, who was called up to the national team lineup for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers February window, could likely make it for Gilas' two-game set late next month.
Gilas will play Hong Kong on the road on Feb. 22 before hosting Chinese Taipei three nights later at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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