Jamie Malonzo details how Ginebra's system, influence help Gilas Pilipinas

Jamie Malonzo quickly turned around his PBA career when he was traded to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last year.

The high-flying forward won his first professional title after the crowd darling beat the Bay Area Dragons in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. Malonzo has also been voted to his first PBA All-Star. He has already become an integral part of Ginebra's present and future.

Malonzo admitted though that adjusting to the Barangay Ginebra culture wasn't easy at first after his initial PBA years with the NorthPort Batang Pier.

"Biggest difference, with my adjustment to the team, you sort of, in a winning culture, you have to show up day in and day out," Malonzo told One Sports' Carlo Pamintuan.

"Some days I feel like, before you can take plays off and get away with things, but when I came to coach [Tim] Cone's offense and defense and the system, I realized you can't really take plays off or else you'll let your teammates down."

The good news is, Malonzo is a good student of the game and quickly picked up the system and requirements from the multi-titled tactician.

"Coach Cone let me know that we have a lot and lot of learning to do, so slowly over time, after being with the team and just soaking it like a sponge, you sort of get the feel for it over time."

Those learnings and systems from Barangay Ginebra are now being applied to the national team.

"We take a lot of things from Ginebra and we bring it also with our Gilas team," Malonzo said.

With Cone tasked to handle the defensive side of the national team, Malonzo pretty much knows what's going to happen.

Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson's inclusion in the pool also helped. Although, Thompson is now sidelined with a hand injury.

"When coach [Tim] describes something, for [example] our defense, you sort of already know what he's talking about and have a good idea. Oftentimes, [me], Scottie and Japeth as examples, they know what's going on and they know Coach Cone's system. Of course, Coach Cone's stuff is always good for our team."