I think it's safe now to write about this.
I am not a news guy. I don't want to break news or gain notoriety for breaking something that's either ongoing happenings or coming from shady sources.
I thought this version of Gilas Pilipinas had no drama.
I think Jamie Malonzo messed up here. I think Tim Cone needs to just have him make laps during practice. With that said, up until the viral video, I thought hiding it from the public was the right move. We were so happy to see Gilas drub Hong Kong and then Chinese Taipei... so why mess things up just because of one off-court situation? If Gilas Pilipinas lost, should we blame it on Malonzo?
While the only reason we call Jamie Malonzo a young player is that most PBA rookies enter the league between the ages of 23 and 27, we also need to protect his future. I know he looked drunk and got trashed at a time when he should have been resting for the game, but who among us didn't sneak to a watering hole before a presentation, examination, or thesis defense? The dude made a mistake and he has already paid for it.
I mean, how humiliating must it be to get beaten by a guy everyone thought was an MMA practitioner but in fact, is just too spaced out to defend himself from an energetic normal guy?
I hate most of the SMC trades and the way the PBA is bowing to their dominance but in this moment, keeping it private is the best thing to do. Yes, the play they did with the gastroenteritis and COVID combo failed to get them out of the rut, but the end justified the means with the aforementioned 2-0 FIBA Asia qualifiers record.
We hated the old version of Gilas Pilipinas because it had unnecessary drama. The current version of Gilas also has a ton in Justin Brownlee, the availability of the players, and now, the incident with Malonzo.
Let's just support them and like we did with Brownlee, just support the player.
Get Sydrified.