Stopping Kevin Quiambao is often a futile task that even the injury bug can’t keep him away for long.
Quiambao looked to have a solid debut against the Seoul SK Knights after knocking down a couple of 3-pointers. Unfortunately, he injured his right ankle after landing on his opponent’s foot, forcing him to remain on the sidelines for a little over two weeks.

The Sono Skygunners were in the midst of a lost season themselves, so there was no reason to rush Quiambao back. Losing aside, the Skygunners were also losing other players to injury so the cautious approach with the 23-year old was not without its reasons. But like most of the defenses he encountered, there was not much they could do to contain Quiambao.
The game against the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters was basically Quiambao’s KBL debut and early on, he was able to display the scoring and the playmaking that made him in demand in leagues both in the Philippines and abroad. The rust was evident, but the UAAP Season 86 Finals MVP was still able to strut his wares in front of a crowd that was eager to see him play.
However, Quiambao’s best game came a few games later against Wonju DB Promy.
Quiambao scored a total of 38 points in his first three games, but proceeded to drop 36 to help Sono get an 86-82 victory, their first with Quiambao. He was firing on all cylinders from pretty much anywhere within halfcourt, but the GIlas Pilipinas forward’s other contributions (12 rebounds, three assists, and two steals) continue to point to his ability to contribute to the Skygunners’ cause in various ways.

For now, Sono must be happy to have Quiambao back on the court again and his recent performances have put to bed any lingering concerns over his injury. He can continue to gain in-game experience while also getting familiar with their system. After all, it was clear that Quiambao is far from a finished product. Decision making in terms of shot selection and ball security are the more obvious ones, but the former DLSU Green Archer will now have to learn to contend with defenses at the professional level. He can make all the mistakes he wants now; the goal in the end is for him to avoid committing them again and again.
We could possibly see Quiambao take on a lesser role at least in the earlier stages of his professional career. This would allow him to tick off on-court milestones as he puts more effort into sharpening his skills outside of games. Unlike other players, Quiambao will not sulk with the role he will be given. Besides, he was as much of a team player as can be during his time in La Salle, where he got his teammates involved first at times to a fault. It’s unlikely they’ll ask Quiambao to take over games, but the Skygunners will expect that he will be reliable especially when the games become winnable.
There’s a reason the Sono Skygunners signed Kevin Quiambao to a multi-year deal and were willing to wait until the end of UAAP Season 87. It shows not just commitment, but patience in seeing him develop. A full offseason and a proper training camp should allow Quiambao to be properly acclimated and it wouldn’t be surprising if by then, Quiambao will exceed the expectations that were set before him.
