Kevin Quiambao has gone to work early as he prepares for his second season in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

Fresh from his 2025 FIBA Asia Cup stint with Gilas Pilipinas earlier this month, the 6-foot-5 forward from Muntinlupa City has since returned to the Land of the Morning Calm to train with the Goyang Sono Skygunners.

“This time, hungrier,” said the do-it-all ace in a social media post just as he finished his latest Gilas stint.

In five games with Gilas in the Asia Cup, the two-time UAAP MVP posted 12 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists, working his way into becoming one of the Nationals’ go-to-guys moving forward.

The former De La Salle University superstar also displayed an admirable and well-improved stroke from beyond the arc, averaging 2.4 makes in 5.4 attempts in Jeddah, which is good for a 44.4 percent.

“He’s becoming a vital cog, another guy we can throw in there with Justin [Brownlee] and Dwight [Ramos],” said Philippines head coach Tim Cone, raving about the one-time UAAP Champion.

“He’s battling for his position, he’s battling for his minutes, and he’s winning those battles,” added the Barangay Ginebra mentor.

Quiambao, who averaged 16.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in his first 23 games in Korea, will now look to translate the growth he showed come the Skygunners’ 2025-2026 campaign in the KBL, which will start later this year.

In addition, the National University-Nazareth School product is also expected to return for another go around with Gilas when they compete in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers which will open in November. (ABS-CBN News)