TRUE to the popular Filipino saying, “Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga,” Filipino basketball standout Kevin Quiambao is showing dogged dedication as he trains in Sacramento, California, hoping for a shot at the NBA.
Focused on making it to the NBA Summer League, the former UAAP MVP and champion — now playing in the Korean Basketball League — landed in the U.S. last Thursday and immediately began intensive workouts.
This is all part of his promise to leave no stone unturned, as the former DLSU Green Archer diligently charts his path to the NBA, remaining dedicated through intense and focused training routines.
Since arriving, Quiambao has participated in several elite-level scrimmages led by seasoned trainer and agent Guss Armstead, which include a mix of professionals, G League athletes, and international prospects.
Stop Spreading Fake News
Despite online chatter claiming he’s already signed with the Sacramento Kings, sources close to the Gilas Pilipinas standout told Spin.PH there’s no truth to the speculation — at least as of now.
Various sports content creators and social media outlets are linking Jimmy Alapag — an assistant coach with the Kings — to Quiambao’s alleged Summer League contract.
Fueling the rumors further, Quiambao trained with Sam Luong, a well-regarded development coach associated with the Kings, in a session that also featured NCAA Division I talents, giving him another chance to display his game against top-tier competition.
Still, Quiambao took to social media to voice his frustration over how these content creators keep blowing things out of proportion based on short clips from his Instagram stories.
The 6-foot-7 do-it-all forward quickly shoot down the rumors by saying, “No Instagram stories for the rest of the trip. Fake news all over the place smh.”
Slim Chance Over No Chance
Quiambao aims to follow the path of Gilas teammate Kai Sotto, who, after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, played for the Orlando Magic in the Summer League before starting his career in Japan B. League.
The 24-year-old standout from DLSU is coming off a breakout rookie season overseas, suiting up for the Goyang Sono Skygunners in the Korean Basketball League, where he posted averages of 16.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals over just 23 games.
Still, despite his strong showing in the KBL, Quiambao acknowledged that his age might be seen as a drawback, knowing NBA teams often prioritize younger prospects when building their rosters.
“Last year sana was the perfect timing for me dahil turning 23 lang ako last year. Ang daming nagsasabi ngayon na 24 is old. But for me, sinabi ko nga sa post ko, a slim chance is better than no chance,” he told Nico Rocha in The 6th Man Podcast.
“For me, na galing sa wala at galing sa barangay leagues, sino ba naman ako para mag-try sa NBA, right? Kumbaga, nung time na bata ako, ang dream ko lang naman is to play in the PBA.”
“It’s a blessed opportunity for me, this a once-in-a-lifetime moment for me, it’s make it or break. Pero kung hindi man ako makha sa NBA, [l’ll still] gain experience. If makuha naman ako, I’ll represent the Philippines with pride and passion,” he added.
Though Quiambao’s shot at reaching the NBA remains uncertain, the signs are promising. He possesses the talent, mentality, and drive. As he puts it himself, even a small chance is still better than none at all.
