KEVIN Quiambao is one busy man.
The La Salle star is juggling practices and games, studies, the demands of fatherhood, and 'extra-curricular activities' as the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament heads to its most crucial phase.
Soon, add Gilas Pilipinas duty to KQ's myriad tasks as the national team convenes in less than a week's time for the coming Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.
How does KQ do it?
Well, there's no doubt that the 6-foot-7 Quimbao is one special athlete. He's disciplined in training and gifted on the court - a Filipino big man blessed with the rare combination of agility, power, and shooting touch.
The La Salle star is also turning out to be very good at multi-tasking.
As the Green Archers roll on to the playoffs as the top favorites to repeat as UAAP champions, Quiambao continues to moonlight in ligang labas games.
One such game came last November 2 in Sariaya, Quezon where he played for Team Vista Laiya in a ligang labas game against Enverga Lucena alongside fellow 'hugot' and former PBA player Marvin Hayes.
Sources contacted by SPIN.ph bared the UAAP star was paid six figures for that one game and soon repaid the generosity of the team owner, delivering a win by contributing nine points, six rebounds, four assists an a steal in 23 minutes.
Laiya won, 100-96, against the erstwhile title favorites.
Quiambao's numerous forays into ligang labas games have been well-documented in the past - videos of him playing around the country in all kinds of playing surfaces often flooding your Facebook feed.
But this latest out-of-town stint came under the microscope because this came in season - not during the offseason.
Also, just days after that Sariaya stint, KQ played one of his worst games as a Green Archer, going 2-for-17 from the field and being benched for long stretches by coach Topex Robinson in a close call against FEU.
Both the UAAP and La Salle management are silent on the issue.
But the fans are not. Debates have raged about it on social media, with Quiambao diehards defending his right to earn extra for his new family and more sober ones expressing concern over the player's welfare.
“Delikado yan. Kung ma-injure siya dyan sira ang future niya,” said Rey Gatapia in a comment posted on our Facebook page.
“Basta ingat lang sa mga laro., baka mas malaking opportunity ang mawala dahil sa injury,” Quiambao fan Leonard Ubana chimed in.
Asked about his numerous ligang labas stints by SPIN.ph in the past, Quiambao said he finds joy in being able to inspire people around the country.
READ Quiambao talks about his ligang labas stints
Meanwhile, the November 2 game may not be Quiambao's last in Sariaya.
Team sources said the La Salle star is 'on call' for his benefactor, depending on how strong an opponent the squad would be facing in the semifinals.
“Sulit naman ang bayad kasi all out maglaro si Kevin. Patay kung patay kung maglaro yan” said a league coach who requested anonimity.
Important to note, however, is that the Season 87 elimination round is set to end in the third week of November, and the Final Four is expected to get underway shortly thereafter.
The 11-1 Green Archers' remaining elims assignments are vs. the University of the Philippines on Sunday, then vs. National University on Wednesday.
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