Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings head coach Tim Cone plans to gradually increase the minutes of veteran forward Jamie Malonzo in upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup matches.

Cone, the winningest coach in PBA history, explained that he does not want to push the former De La Salle University Green Archers star too hard just yet, as Malonzo works to regain his previous form.

“Malonzo’s playing minutes will increase incrementally as the games come along,” Cone said in a post-game interview. “But for now, we have minute restrictions on him. We’ll try to continue to monitor his minutes for the next few games.”

The Gilas Pilipinas forward played for close to 11 minutes and finished with eight points, three rebounds, and an assist in the Gin Kings’ lopsided 86-63 victory over the Blackwater Bossing on Sunday.

“For Jamie himself, it’s been a long, long road for him. We watched him from the side and saw the work he’s done. It was just a culmination of the hard work of getting back in the lineup,” Cone said.

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Malonzo has just returned from a calf muscle injury he sustained during the Gin Kings’ 2024 PBA Philippine Cup elimination round match against the NorthPort Batang Pier.

Up next for the Gin Kings is the TNT Tropang Giga on Friday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.