AS the New Zealand Tall Blacks taps a new coach, Gilas Pilipinas mentor Tim Cone brings in another tall player in Kevin Quiambao, who will take a break from his duties with the La Salle Green Archers.
The 6’10” Quiambao last played in the first window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
In Gilas national men’s basketball team’s first encounter with Hong Kong, Quiambao finished with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go with three rebounds, two assists and a steal in 17 minutes of action.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio said he had earlier asked University Athletic Association of the Philippines executive director Rebo Saguisag to allow Quiambao to suit up Gilas’ two games against New Zealand and Hong Kong.
“Yes, he is playing. The coming two playdates of the UAAP will not involve La Salle,” said Panlilio.
Quiambao is expected to be part of Gilas’ coming campaigns as it bids to reach the tournament proper of the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
Meanwhile, coach Jude Flavell will debut with the Tall Blacks when they meet the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team on Friday at the start of the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Flavell took the place of Pero Cameron, who recently quit, after accepting an offer to handle the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese professional league CBA.
Cone will test his tactics against the 50-year-old Flavell, who previously coached the New Zealand U18 team in 2013.
