Two-time UAAP men’s basketball MVP Kevin Quiambao is set to fly in from Korea on Feb. 12 to join Gilas in a pocket tournament in Doha and will be available to play in the coming FIBA Asia Cup third qualifying window. KQ had a scare when he twisted his right ankle on a bad landing from a three-point attempt in the second quarter of his Korean Basketball League (KBL) debut with the Goyang Sono Skygunners last Jan. 12.
It was initially reported that Quiambao would sit out a month to recover from the injury, jeopardizing his chances to see action for Gilas next month. But a later examination revealed only a Grade 1 sprain with a two-week period of rehab, strengthening and recovery. Quiambao, 23, confirmed he would suit up for Goyang against Anyang in a KBL game scheduled last night.
“KQ will arrive on Feb. 12 and fly with us to Doha on Feb. 13,” said Gilas assistant coach/team manager Richard del Rosario. “As far as I know, he’ll be able to play in the February window.” The Doha pocket tournament will be held on Feb. 14-16 with the national teams of Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt. Qatar’s roster lists several naturalized players including Mike Lewis and Tyler Harris of USA, Babacar Dieng of Senegal, Alen Hadzibegovic of Montenegro and Nadim Muslic and Favis Avdic of Bosnia.
From Doha, Gilas is expected to return to Manila then fly to Taiwan for the qualifying game against Chinese-Taipei on Feb. 20 and to Auckland for another qualifying game against New Zealand on Feb. 23.
Last Monday, Quiambao was recognized as Mr. Basketball in the amateurs by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) at the Annual Awards Night. The award was received in his behalf by La Salle team scorer Jong Nicolas. In his message sent from Korea, Quiambao called the award a “dream come true,” thanked the PSA and said, “malayo man ako, kasama po ninyo ako in spirit … saan man bansa mapunta ako, proud Pinoy ako palagi … pagdasal nyo po na bigyan ako ng lakas ng Diyos upang mapatuloy ko ang pagdangal sa ating bansa at kababayan.”