Quiambao Shines Bright Despite Gilas' Opening Loss in Asia Cup
You know, in sports, even in a tough loss, there's often that one moment—or that one player—that gives fans something to hold on to. And in Gilas Pilipinas' opening game at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, that glimmer of hope came in the form of Kevin Quiambao.
Now, the team fell short against Chinese Taipei, 95 to 87, but let me tell you, Quiambao's performance was the standout of the night. The surprising part? He didn’t even see a single second of action in the first half. That’s right—he was benched all the way until halftime. But when his number was finally called in the second half, he came out with fire.
He dropped 17 points, pulled down 4 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists—all in just one half. And that fourth quarter? That was his stage. He exploded for 13 of those points, becoming the engine behind a late comeback attempt. At one point, the Philippines trimmed what had been a double-digit deficit to just six points, with Quiambao nailing a clutch three to pull them within 74–80.
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But just when the tide seemed to be turning, Gilas suffered another blow—Justin Brownlee, the team’s naturalized star, fouled out. His absence allowed Chinese Taipei to widen the gap again. Still, Quiambao wasn’t done. He fought hard, scoring another five points to cut the lead to 90–83 with just a minute to go, but time simply ran out.
Coach Tim Cone had nothing but praise, saying, “Kevin played very, very well. He was the highlight of the team.” And honestly, it’s hard to argue. His energy was contagious. He hit big shots. He wanted the moment. It was his best showing yet for the senior national team, shooting an efficient 6-for-10 from the field.
The bigger story here might be what this means going forward. With teams obviously targeting Brownlee, Coach Cone hinted that more offensive options are needed. And if this game is any indication, Quiambao might be exactly that spark plug Gilas needs.
Asked about his readiness, Quiambao simply said, “I always tell myself to stay ready.” And that mindset clearly paid off.
So sure, the game ended in a loss, but something was gained: a new confidence in Kevin Quiambao, who proved he’s ready when the spotlight finds him. And who knows? That spotlight might stay on a little longer when Gilas faces New Zealand next.
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