Jamie Malonzo of Barangay Ginebra will miss six to eight weeks after injuring his calf in the final seconds of their 95-88 PBA Philippine Cup win over Northport.
Coach Tim Cone confirmed Wednesday, three days after Malonzo sustained the injury in a freak incident that came with the outcome already settled at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Initial prognosis is calf tear,” Cone said in a text message. “six to eight weeks before he can return to the lineup.”
It appeared that Malonzo was going for a breakaway dunk to cap off a hard-fought win when he suddenly fell to the ground, putting a damper on the result that put Ginebra at 5-3 in the all-Filipino tournament.
With Malonzo missing significant time, the Gin Kings hope to see other players fill the void to enhance their chances of better positioning in the quarterfinals.
The timetable, which Cone said, may mean that Malonzo could miss the remainder of the eliminations and the early part of the playoffs.
Malonzo is known for thriving in the Ginebra roster for his athleticism and ability to produce on offense when needed.
However, the performance of rookie Ralph Cu last week is something Ginebra hopes will rub off on the rest of the roster.
Cu averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in the wins over Blackwater and Northport.
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