MANILA, Philippines — Jamie Malonzo finally gets another chance to play in Japan after signing up with the Tokyo Z Earthfriends in the B.League second division, the team announced in its social media account on Friday.
The athletic Malonzo marks his return in the B.2 League of the Land of the Rising Sun, following a brief, five-game stint with the Kyoto Hannaryz in the 2025-26 season.
“Earth Friends Tokyo Z would like to inform you that we have reached a basic agreement with Jamie Malonzo for the 2026-27 season,” the team announced on its social media account.
The 30-year-old Malonzo has been in limbo since the Kyoto ballclub cut ties with him last year, before having a brief basketball renaissance when he was tapped to play for Gilas in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
Malonzo made great use of his national team stint, providing crucial scoring and defense help the Philippines defend its men’s basketball crown successfully against home team Thailand in the gold medal game.
While netizens clamored for Malonzo’s return to Ginebra, the Fil-Am wingman was covered by the three-year ban the PBA has imposed on players who elect to sign elsewhere despite a contract offered by their mother teams.
The former La Salle forward surprised everyone last year when he decided to play for Japan, having been a vital cog for Ginebra under coach Tim Cone.
