Kevin Quiambao rises for a jumper. The do-it-all forward had 17 points to lead all Gilas scorers. —FIBA.BASKETBALL
It doesn’t matter where Kevin Quiambao plays.
In one-off outings as a guest player in barangay courts. In the UAAP’s polished courts or in the Korean Basketball League, where he sees club-level action. In international arenas with Gilas Pilipinas.
Quiambao has always set high standards for himself.
“As one of my mentors told me, there’s always another level,” Quiambao said in an article recently posted on the Fiba website. “If you [reach one level], there’s still [another level] level [you can climb], until you reach the apex.”
The way Quiambao performed against host Saudi Arabia, it seems the he has found yet another higher gear to his game. And with the prominent role of AJ Edu and the glimpses of promise Carl Tamayo has shown in spot minutes given by coach Tim Cone, Gilas Pilipinas’ future may have finally arrived.
How they can take advantage of the opportunities and how Cone can transform them into vital pieces for Gilas in the long term. The Philippines lost to Australia, 84-60, in the quarterfinals of the Fiba Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia late Wednesday (Manila time).
The Boomers, gold medalists in the Asia Cup in 2017 and 2022, hiked their unbeaten tournament run to 16 games.
But in bouncing out of the tournament, Gilas Pilipinas will now turn its focus on the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers later this year. The qualifiers for the 2027 edition of basketball’s grandest tournament and after turning the Asia Cup into his unofficial coming out party, the 24-year-old forward is expected to be one of the shoo-ins for the qualifiers.
Quiambao delivered 17 points, including two triples in the overtime, enabling Gilas to pull away and defeat Saudi Arabia, 95-88. Against Australia, the all-around talent out of La Salle in the UAAP led the Filipinos with 17 points and four rebounds.
His minutes has been inconsistent from the start of the Asia Cup, but the KBL import for the Goyang Sono Skygunners has played aggressive, his relative youth among his national teammates not making him shy away from taking big shots.
Boomers’ strong start
Against Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinal qualifier, Quiambao immediately provided an impact for Gilas after June Mar Fajardo collected two quick fouls at the start.
“My dream is to reach that apex, and to be recognized here in the international scene as well,” Quiambao said.
Edu, 25, meanwhile, has become part of Cone’s closeout lineup during the tournament, given his ability to block shots and the way he makes an effort to defend perimeter players.
Against the Boomers, Edu finished with eight points and eight rebounds.
Edu could benefit even more once Kai Sotto returns from an ACL injury. Sotto and Edu have played together for Gilas before, starting in their days with the junior program.
Tamayo averages just 6.8 minutes in the tournament, and fans have been clamoring for the Changwon LG Sakers mainstay in the KBL to get more playing time.
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Jaylin Galloway and Owen Foxwell had 15 points each to lead Australia, which jumped to a 16-point in the first quarter and was hardly threatened from thereon.