Putting on the Gilas Pilipinas jersey will be more than carrying the flag now for La Salle star Kevin Quiambao in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
La Salle star Kevin Quiambao will have an extra bout of motivation when he puts on his Gilas Pilipinas jersey for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers against New Zealand and Hong Kong at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
On top of representing the Philippines anew, the Asia Cup Qualifiers will be KQ’s first time playing as a father to his two-month-old son Kevin Vennan.
“I think eto ‘yung ikukwento ko sa kanya in the future na nakapaglaro nga [ako] ng Gilas. Hopefully makuha din siya in the future,” Quiambao said in a media scrum following La Salle’s 77-66 victory over the UP Fighting Maroons last Sunday, November 10.
Quiambao’s fatherhood journey began on September 24, when his partner Faye Aguila gave birth to a healthy Kevin Vennan at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center. At the time, the 23-year-old recalled seeing his newborn son as a “surreal feeling”, and was an experience that no words can properly describe.
You may also recall that a sleepless Quiambao played a day after Kevin Vennan’s birth, notching 12 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists as he helped La Salle stave off the scrappy FEU Tamaraws last September 25.
Despite a loaded schedule due to training and gamedays, KQ makes time for his partner and son as he fulfills his commitments as a student-athlete.
“Lagi ko lang sila iniisip. Palagi, every time after game chine-check ko lang sila kung okay lang ba sila palagi. Ayun nga, kahit busy ako na ang daming trainings, games, hinding hindi ko sila makakalimutang i-check,” said the one-time UAAP champion.
Kevin Quiambao and Gilas will open this Asia Cup Qualifiers window on November 21 against New Zealand, before wrapping up against Hong Kong on the 25th. This window also marks Gilas’ first assignments on home soil following their surprise run at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last July in Riga.
Quiambao believes that Gilas’ biggest X-factor will be their homecourt advantage at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“I think number one factor is ‘yung homecourt advantage natin. And ‘yun nga, isa ako sa blessed na makakapaglaro, malalineup sa Gilas and ise-seize ko itong opportunity na ‘to and hinding hindi ko rin palalampasin,” he said.
Besides KQ, familiar faces make up head coach Tim Cone’s 15-man pool for the November window, including PBA stars such as Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Scottie Thompson, and June Mar Fajardo. Japan B.League mainstays Dwight Ramos and Kai Sotto are also in the mix, along with Carl Tamayo coming from the Korean Basketball League.
AJ Edu also returns to action from his meniscus tear, while big man Ange Kouame will likely take some load off Justin Brownlee as Gilas’ naturalized player. Edu has been productive in the B.League with Nagasaki Velca, while Kouame is Meralco’s naturalized player for their EASL campaign.
With a mostly unchanged lineup, Quiambao remains one of two collegiate players in Cone’s Gilas core alongside La Salle transferee Mason Amos.
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.