Gilas Pilipinas young gun Kevin Quiambao is set to lead De La Salle University later this year as they aim to defend their championship in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
The 6-foot-6, Muntinlupa native is expected to carry the load for the Green Archers starting in September, especially after the departure of Evan Nelle, Jonnel Policarpio and Ef Escandor.
But it is not the only squad that he will be playing for during that time.
The reigning league and finals MVP of the UAAP will be among the 12 men who will face Hong Kong and New Zealand during November’s 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, and head coach Tim Cone is confident that there will be no conflict despite the games happening during the UAAP Season.
“As far as we know, we have a complete agreement with the UAAP. It was already established before the first window that the UAAP will free up their players and bend their schedule so that they can play in November,” he said during a press conference in Mandaluyong City.
“I fully expect them to be a part of it. We had a meeting with the stakeholders, the PBA, the UAAP and the NCAA, and they will make their guys available,” he added.
Quiambao is one of the players who Cone holds high regard for in his current roster, as he thinks that the La Salle forward as well as former University of the Philippines star Carl Tamayo will be the future of Gilas.
“Kevin is an absolutely huge part of this program. He is, without a doubt, our future. In a year or two, he will be the veteran of this group,” he said.
“Kevin represents that core, along with Carl. Kevin and Carl, they represent the core of players that we want to grow into our system and become the future stars of our team.”
That is why, for Cone, the availability and health of Quiambao, Tamayo and the rest of the team will be crucial, especially since they will face the world’s no. 21 team New Zealand in the first of their pair of games in the next window of the Asia Cup.
“They are not a huge team in terms of seven footers, but they are tall across the board. They’re all 6’8”, 6’9”, their guards are 6’5” and 6’6″, and historically, they are historically a tough team to match up to,” said Cone.
In their last meetings, Gilas is currently winless in four games against New Zealand, but the Barangay Ginebra tactician likes their chances this time around.
“We haven’t played them with Kai [Sotto] and June Mar [Fajardo] playing together, and while having a naturalized player like Justin [Brownlee],” Cone pointed out.
“I think we could match up with them better this time around, and we’re excited to play two home games. That’s the most exciting part, playing New Zealand here,” he added.
The two squads will be locking horns on November 21, and they are expected to play at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. (ABS-CBN News)