By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Jamie Malonzo will remain part of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings after agreeing to a two-year contract extension ahead of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup 2023-2024 on November 5.

Barangay Ginebra governor and San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua confirmed the signing of the former De La Salle University Green Archers forward after months of negotiations.

The contract renewal of the 27-year-old Malonzo is the latest upside in his basketball career since being traded to the Gin Kings from NorthPort Batang Pier last season.

Not long after his Ginebra move, the former no. 2 overall pick won his first PBA championship as the Gin Kings defeated guest team Bay Area Dragons in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.

After that, Malonzo was called up for the Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, and eventually cracked the national men’s basketball team’s 12-man roster for the World Cup.

Malonzo could have been a shoo-in for the Tim Cone-mentored Gilas Pilipinas in the just-concluded 19th Asian Games, but a shoulder injury he sustained in the FIBA World Cup has forced him to beg off.

Aside from Malonzo, another former Green Archers in center Ralph Cu was signed to a one-year contract by the Gin Kings, making him the lone rookie to be inked by the defending champions.

Cu was Ginebra’s top pick during the PBA Season 48 Rookie Draft last month in the absence of a first rounder that they traded to the Batang Pier when they acquired Malonzo.

The 6-foot-4 Cu has shown promise with the Gin Kings during the 2023 PBA on Tour and also suited up for the squad’s 3×3 team.

Ginebra’s other picks in Kim Aurin, Franz Abuda and Brandrey Bienes have not been signed after not receiving tender offers from the team.

Aurin was reportedly picked up by the TNT Tropang Giga./ASC, WDJ