MANILA, Philippines – Kevin Quiambao is having a bittersweet run to start his professional career in the Korean Basketball League (KBL)
The two-time UAAP MVP is reportedly set to miss at least a month after rupturing an ankle ligament in his very first game with the Goyang Sono Skygunners, Korean outlet Naver reported on Monday, January 13.
As he has done multiple times in the collegiate ranks, Quiambao started the game keen to get on a hot streak on Sunday, January 12, sinking two quick threes to set the tone before suddently landing on an opponent’s foot on another three-point attempt at the 7:44 mark of the second quarter.
Just as quickly as he entered, the Gilas Pilipinas stalwart had to be helped off the court and was not able to return as Goyang eventually suffered an 84-57 blowout loss to the Seoul SK Knights.
Given the initial timeline, Quiambao is expected to return sometime in mid-February, putting doubt to his national team participation in the third window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Gilas, which already lost another young star Kai Sotto to an ACL tear just five days prior, next plays Chinese Taipei on February 20, then New Zealand on February 23. – Rappler.com