Kevin Quiambao is one of the country’s premier hoopers, but he hasn’t always been able to show that with Gilas Pilipinas as he has often been playing behind Justin Brownlee and Dwight Ramos.
Come this weekend, in Window 4 of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Kevin Quiambao will have his biggest opportunity yet to show how good he really is with Brownlee unlikely to play. Others would shy away from this moment; expect the 6‑foot‑4 wing to embrace it.
“From the start, nung kinuha ako ni Coach Tim [Cone], sinabi ko talaga sa sarili ko na ‘Stay ready every time,’” Quiambao said during Gilas Pilipinas’ presser on Monday. “Whenever may opportunity na dumating, I just seize the moment and make the most out of it… I’ll just keep on working hard para mas maging fluid pa.”
To be fair, the 24‑year‑old has had his moments for Gilas in recent years, like his 23‑point outburst versus New Zealand in the last window and his FIBA Asia Cup breakout last year. But without Brownlee against Jordan and Iran on Friday and Sunday, Kevin Quiambao will have to truly seize the moment.
Kevin Quiambao, Other ‘Young Guns’ to Do Whatever It Takes
Window 4 is fast shaping up to be the turn of Gilas Pilipinas’ younger core to show it is ready to take the reins from the old guard. So, expect Kevin Quiambao and his fellow young guns—Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, and Carl Tamayo, to name three—to do what they can to secure for the national team the wins it needs to stay in World Cup contention. But don’t expect Quiambao to stray too far off from Tim Cone’s systematic and oftentimes strict Triangle offense.
“I’m just thankful and blessed na may teammates ako na binibigyan ako ng kumpyansa. ‘Yung points ko, galing sa system,” Quiambao pointed out. “As young guns, kung ano lang yung maco‑contribute, gagawin lang namin. ‘Yung opportunity, dumating lang. Tinake advantage ko lang ‘yun.”
The confidence isn’t lacking, for sure. And the opportunity is there. It’s up for Kevin Quiambao to take it.
