While it came as a shock to fans, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings already knew beforehand of Jamie Malonzo’s move to Japan.

The high-flying forward out of De La Salle University is set to suit up for Kyoto Hannaryz in the Japan B.League for the 2025-2026 Season, and Ginebra head coach Tim Cone said that this was always a move that Malonzo wanted to pursue.

“We knew a couple of weeks ago,” the Gilas Pilipinas coach, who is currently in Jeddah with Malonzo for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, told ABS-CBN News on Thursday evening, July 31.

“We’ve known for a couple of years that Jamie had an interest in playing in Japan, so it was not a big surprise,” he added.

Malonzo was still one of Ginebra’s key cogs in the recently concluded PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, putting up 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Gin Kings in a run that saw them reach the semifinals.

This is why Cone said that he was not keen on suddenly seeing one of his troops make his exit, but the former Alaska Milk mentor also understands that playing in the B.League is also a huge opportunity for Malonzo.

“We’re certainly disappointed Jamie wanted to leave Ginebra,” he expressed of the player that they acquired in 2022 together with Von Pessumal in exchange for Arvin Tolentino, Jeff Chan, Prince Caperal, Kent Salado, and a Season 48 first round pick.

“But we’re never going to hold back a player who wants to better his situation. We wish him well,” he added.

Moving forward, Cone is now challenging the likes of Jeremiah Gray, Aljon Mariano and Jayson David to step up and fill in the hole that Malonzo will be leaving starting Season 50.

“Now this will give others a chance to step up and fill the void,” said Cone.

“Players like Jeremiah, Aljon, Jason, and others.” (ABS-CBN News)