MANILA, Philippines – The new year offers a fresh start for Jamie Malonzo.

The athletic forward restarts his injury-derailed career after being activated by Barangay Ginebra ahead of its PBA Commissioner’s Cup clash against defending champion San Miguel at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, January 5.

Out for over eight months, Malonzo is itching to play again, especially after missing the Gin Kings’ rousing Christmas win over Magnolia, with Ginebra completing a comeback from 22 points down thanks to a Scottie Thompson game-winner.

“I was super jealous not being able to be on the court,” said Malonzo.

Malonzo sustained a calf tear during a non-contact play near the end of a win over NorthPort in the Philippine Cup last season in April.

He was expected to be out for two months, but his return got pushed back as he sat out the rest of the past year, missing the remainder of the Philippine Cup, the entire Governors’ Cup, and the start of the Commissioner’s Cup.

Without Malonzo, the Gin Kings fell short of the Governors’ Cup crown after bowing to TNT in six games in the best-of-seven finals in November.

The long wait for his comeback, though, is nearly over, and Malonzo has been putting the work in to make sure he is ready to shake off the rust following his lengthy layoff.

“I’ve been bulking up. When you go into surgery, you lose muscle in certain parts of the area so it was important to bulk up,” said Malonzo.

“Everybody’s been calling me fat, but I’ve been bulking up trying to gain more muscle in different areas of the body.”

Malonzo also looks forward to reuniting with Gilas Pilipinas after being reduced to a spectator in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July and the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in November.

Barring any hitches, the 28-year-old will suit up for the national team again in the third window of the Asia Cup Qualifiers in February as the Philippines plays a pair of road games against New Zealand and Chinese Taipei.

“I can’t miss two back-to-back. I want to be part of it,” he said. – Rappler.com