GILAS Pilipinas will be without one key player in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
National coach Tim Cone bared that high-flying forward Jamie Malonzo has been ruled out for the squad when the team sees action in the OQT set July 2 to 7 in Latvia due to a calf injury.
“His recovery time is going to be measured in months and not weeks,” Cone said of his prized ward who’s also done for the Kings for the rest of the PBA Philippine Cup. “So, he’s going to be out for the OQT.
“That’s for sure. No, he won’t be able to play,” he added.
The Filipino cagers are set to reconvene on June 22 at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba and play in a pair of exhibition games against Turkey and Poland.
After its camp in Laguna, Gilas’ mettle will be tested in their preparations for the qualifiers.
Gilas, ranked No. 37, must finish in the top two of its group to reach the crossover semifinals against the top two of Group B, which includes No. 12 Brazil, No. 17 Montenegro, and No. 67 Cameroon.
The winners of the crossover semis will clash for the lone slot in the Olympics.
The 6-foot-7 Malonzo initially wanted to have the injury heal on its own by resting, but doctors later advised him to undergo surgery instead.
He went under the knife three days ago and is now resting at home.
“There was a slight possibility that (the injury) could heal on its own, but the chances of him getting his explosiveness back is not very good,” Cone said. “So, he needed that surgery to get that explosiveness back.”
Cone, appointed by the SBP as Gilas’ permanent tactician only last January, has formed a 12-man national team training pool for the next four years with three lofty goals in sight–qualify for the Paris Olympics and 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the ultimate target–the LA Games four years from now.
Even without Malonzo, Cone’s squad still boasts a formidable line-up bannered by naturalized star Justin Brownlee, along with reigning seven-time MVP Fajardo and former winner Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Kai Sotto, and Kevin Quiambao, and alternates Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos.
Aside from the OQT, Gilas will resume its bid in the second window set for Nov. 21 and 24 after it completed a 2-0 sweep of the first round of the Asia Cup qualifiers last February.
“We expect him to be back for us by November for the windows,” Cone said.
