Strong Group enlists Quiambao

MANILA, Philippines — Strong Group has tapped the services of La Salle and Gilas Pilipinas standout Kevin Quiambao as replacement for Ange Kouame in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament starting Friday.

Kouame is nursing dengue and has been confined since last week, prompting the team to look for a replacement.

And the 6-foot-7 Quiambao is expected to ably fill the hole given his versatility and leadership with La Salle at a young age highlighted by a UAAP Rookie of the Year citation behind averages of 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.7 steals.

The 21-year-old Quiambao is beefing up the Strong Group frontcourt of Renaldo Balkman and Shabazz Muhammad as well as Justine Baltazar and NCAA MVP Will Gozum.

Another reinforcement in Nick Young banners the backcourt rotation with Jerom Lastimosa and JD Cagulangan with Francis Lopez and Fil-Am prospect Sedrick Barefield at wings.

BJ Andrade, Migs Oczon and Inand Fornillos are also expected to step up for the squad owned by Jacob Lao, the ex-Ateneo guard and newly-minted assistant manager of Converge in the PBA.

Strong Group, under the watch of Charles Tiu, is out to duplicate the feat of the Mighty Philippines team -- also under his helm -- after sweeping the 2020 Dubai tilt as its first non-Middle Eastern champion team.

Quiambao, Lastimosa and Kouame are also part of the 24-man Gilas Pilipinas pool for Window 6 of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers next month at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.