ON THURSDAY, speculations circulated online that Kevin Quiambao had gotten an offer from the New York Knicks to play on their 2024 NBA Summer League team.
According to a now-deleted video shared by Miguel Rocha, Strong Group Athletics’ head of public relations, the reigning UAAP MVP received an offer as announced on Thursday, January 25.
This follows an X (Formerly Twitter) post from Snow Badua, a Filipino sports insider, which sparked excitement among the Philippine basketball community about Quiambao representing the country as a full-blooded Pinoy in the NBA.
“And I confirm [that] he did get offered to play for the Summer League. Yes, he did. He got offered to play in the Summer League, but there is no decision yet. No, decision for Kevin Quiambao,” Rocha remarked in the now-deleted video.
“What matters is he got offered by New York to try out in the Summer League. And that’s already a big plus, already a big win for Philippine basketball considering a we were trying to get the first Filipino, pure blooded Filipino into the NBA. And it all starts there.”
“But for Kevin Quiambao, [he] has not committed yet to saying yes. Because maraming factors na naman ‘yan. He already committed to La Salle. There’s gonna be problems if, not (really] problems, but more of gonna be hurdles if he said yes,” he continued.
Playing in his fittest, best form yet, Quiambao already declared that he has decided to stay for at least one more year at De La Salle University.
The 6-foot-5 big man finished his outstanding sophomore year by winning all available individual honors in the UAAP Season 86, which saw him lead the Green Archers to its tenth title.
Photo Courtesy: Strong Group Athletics | Facebook
Strong Group went unbeaten in its group campaign, finishing 5-0 and advancing to the quarterfinals of the ongoing 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship.
“His performance in Dubai proved that maraming nanonood. Not just fans, but there are also scouts who watch online. Not only do they look State side, they already look outside America,” says Rocha.
However, moments later, SGA head coach Charles Tiu went to X and instantly denied the story, claiming that nothing is going on between Quiambao and the Knicks.
Despite the fact that the story has been debunked, seeing the country’s full-blooded Pinoy player play at such a high level is an exciting prospect.
Quiambao’s amazing plays will undoubtedly attract greater interest in their forthcoming tournaments he’ll take part in.
