WHILE Gilas Pilipinas rejoiced after a 106-53 demolition of Chinese Taipei before a wild and roaring hometown crowd last Sunday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, Jamie Malonzo got a “beating.”
Malonzo, the Nationals’ high-flying forward, got infected with gastroenteritis, tested positive for COVID-19, and later was mugged in an unidentified restaurant.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday said he spoke to Malonzo, who admitted he was the person involved in a fight with a shorter guy in a video that went viral late Sunday night.
“Nakausap ko si Jamie and sabi niya miscommunication and it didn’t go well (cause of fight). Nag-apologize siya sa liga, sa Ginebra fans, pati sa SBP and Gilas,” Marcial told Malaya-Business Insight yesterday. “Tinanong ko rin si SBP President Al Panlilio, ang sabi niya noong Sabado, may gastroenteritis, iyon pala kaya may gastro, may COVID na siya, may symptoms.
“He was tested last Saturday afternoon and it turned out positive and then Sunday, positive pa rin kaya hindi siya nakalaro dahil COVID positive,” he added.
Marcial said the Ginebra star didn’t go into details about the fight, although insiders said the incident happened in a restaurant in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
Gilas coach Tim Cone earlier said Malonzo and naturalized star Justin Brownlee were under the weather after their 94-64 drubbing of Hong Kong last Thursday.
“Actually, he (Malonzo) and Justin were both sick coming home
