The Philippine basketball fans are concerned about Kevin Quiambao’s health as Gilas Pilipinas prepares for the final stage of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. Kevin Quiambao, a former star player in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), had a tough start in his new basketball journey in South Korea’s Korea Basketball League (KBL).
On January 12, Kevin Quiambao made his debut for the Goyang Sono Skygunners in the KBL. Fans were excited to see the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) show off his skills. Unfortunately, his first game against Seoul SK did not go as planned. During the second quarter, he landed on another player’s foot by accident, twisting his ankle in the process. This happened with 7 minutes and 42 seconds left in the quarter.
Kevin Quiambao in his KBL debut:
— Take Aim (@TakeAimLS) January 12, 2025
6 pts and 1 reb in 7 minutes of court time after leaving the game with an ankle iniury pic.twitter.com/CJwHxDXwMD
Doctors later confirmed that he had a Grade 1 ankle sprain. An MRI scan showed that the injury was not too serious, but Kevin would still need to rest and recover for at least two weeks. The good news is that he is expected to be fully recovered and ready to play for Gilas Pilipinas in their upcoming FIBA Asia Cup matches.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone shared his thoughts about Kevin’s injury. He said, “We need to investigate on our own and talk to KQ before any decision is made.” Tim Cone’s careful approach shows how important Kevin Quiambao is to the team.
This injury is a challenge for both Kevin and the team. Gilas Pilipinas is already dealing with another major issue: Kai Sotto, another young basketball star, is also out of action due to a serious knee injury.
While Kevin Quiambao’s injury will only keep him off the court for a short time, Kai Sotto’s situation is more serious. Kai, who plays for the Koshigaya Alphas in Japan’s B.League, hurt his knee during a game against the Mikawa Seahorses on January 5.
The injury happened in the first quarter while Kai was trying to score near the basket. His left knee gave way, and he fell to the floor. The team later announced that Kai had torn the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his left knee. This kind of injury requires a long recovery time. Doctors expect Kai to miss at least six months of basketball. This is sad news for fans and for Gilas Pilipinas, as Kai is a key player for the team.
Gilas Pilipinas has two important games coming up in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. They will face Taiwan on February 20 and New Zealand on February 23. These games will decide if the team can move on to the next stage of the tournament.
With Kai Sotto unable to play, Kevin Quiambao’s role becomes even more important. The team will need him to step up and deliver strong performances. His skill and basketball smarts have always impressed fans, and many are hopeful that he can help the team succeed.
Even with this recent injury, Kevin Quiambao’s future looks very bright. He is known for being a versatile player who can adapt to different situations on the court. Since his days in the UAAP, he has been recognized as one of the best young talents in Philippine basketball.
Playing in the Korea Basketball League is a big step for Kevin. Competing in an international league will help him grow as a player and prepare him for bigger challenges in the future. One of his former UAAP coaches shared, “Kevin has always been a fighter. This injury is just a small bump on his journey.”
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