KEVIN Quiambao was noticeably absent when Gilas Pilipinas held its final practice in the country prior to departing for its Australian training camp in preparation for the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
The two-time UAAP MVP out of De La Salle was the only one not around for the national team during its open public workout Monday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Coach Tim Cone though, said the 25-year-old forward was excused from the proceedings.
“Kevin had a personal thing going on today. So he was totally excused,” said Cone when asked about KQ not in attendance.
READ: Mike Phillips turns emotional on first Fiba call-up with Gilas
But deputy coach Richard Del Rosario allayed concerns Quiambao won’t be going with the team when it leaves for Brisbane Tuesday afternoon for its week-long training camp prior to the start of the third window of the qualifiers.
“Sasabay pa rin siya sa team. It’s only today that he’s not around kasi [may] inasikaso lang siya,” said Del Rosario.
Cone actually had bigger plans for the Korean Basketball League Rookie of the Year when Gilas tangles with New Zealand in Auckland on July 3 and Australia in Perth on July 6.
“We’re gonna move KQ on the two-guard position a little bit and give him an opportunity to play there and allows us to play bigger in that position,” said the Gilas mentor of the move that will have Quiambao alternating with Dwight Ramos in the spot.
“So he’ll get substantial time there as well as the three-position.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
