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The upcoming PBA rookie draft is set to be one of the most loaded in recent history. With the PBA relaxing their PBA D-League requirements along with the college leagues halting their competitions, many great talents decided that this was the perfect time to turn pro.
Jamie Malonzo was one of the few who really knew what the next step was for him. The De La Salle Green Archers’ unique product entered the PBA D-League Draft and played a game for Marinerong Pilipino before it was closed due to the pandemic.
Undaunted, Malonzo flew back to the United States because he knew its more relaxed rules on the confinement would allow him to work on his game.
“I’m training in the gym because there are a lot of things open here in Las Vegas,” Malonzo said, a few days after officially declaring for the next draft. “Getting into the gym has not been difficult, so I am preparing myself physically and mentally for the PBA.”
The consensus for the draft is that Malonzo will be chosen alongside Joshua Munzon at the top. Although there are many opinions on who would go first, many agree that these two athletic young men will go 1 and 2.
“Josh is my real friend, but to be able to compete against him will be fun. A lot of people say he will be and that he will be at the top of the draft and that’s exciting,” he said. “There is always pressure to be better. With the pandemic, we have a lot of time to work on our game, to work on our weaknesses and prepare for the PBA Draft. Seeing that I could go 1 or 2 with Josh just drives me to go harder. “.
Malonzo is also keeping an eye on some of his college teammates who also ran for the draft.
“I saw a lot of Santi (Leonard Santillán) playing five against five and 3×3. In fact, it’s good to see a lot of DLSU guys enter the draft as well,” as Andrei Caracut and Jamie Laput, who also hope to win. out of place in the pros.
While some of the rookie hopefuls in the Philippines were limited by the lockdown and only got to work on their game after the government relaxed its rules, Malonzo got off to a start in the United States.
“Being able to handle the stone and carry it around the court is something I’ve spent a lot of time on,” he said. “I’ve been working on my vision of the court because I want to get my teammates involved. I want to be able to do it all in the PBA. I’m working on my weaknesses. I’m working on my outside shooting. I’ve been shooting from the 3-point line. the NBA, so I hope it translates into three pitches when I’m in the PBA. “
Apart from the physical aspect, Malonzo knows that he also has to prepare for the mental game. Fortunately for him, he has had a great list of mentors.
“I admire a lot of PBA players and have talked to some of them. They give me a lot of wisdom because they’ve been in the league for a while. There are a couple of players that I could see myself playing like. Great guys like Gabe Norwood,” Malonzo shared.
He also took a close look at what leadership at the NBA level looked like when he played alongside Andray Blatche and Renaldo Balkman for Mighty Sports Philippines in Dubai last year.
“I learned a lot from guys like Renaldo Balkman and Andray Blatche. I was just a sponge when I was with Mighty Sports. Those two showed a lot of leadership and they showed what it took to take a team to the championship in just one time,” Malonzo said.
“One of the most important things I’m focusing on is helping lead a team. I’m getting into a situation where I’ll probably have to be a leader and a factor from the start. I want to cause quite a stir. I want you to my presence is known. I want to show that I am a top draft pick by being a factor throughout the season. “
