CHICAGO - In the days leading to the formation of the Sacramento Kings roster for the Las Vegas Summer League which begins this Thursday, Kevin Quiambao arrived in the California state capital in pursuit of his NBA dream.
The plan was to work out with topflight coaches and trainers through his US reps at Comsport.
And the hope was that TNT legend Jimmy Alapag. who's now a player development coach with the Kings, can bridge a tryout for a spot in the Summer League team put together by Stockton Kings GM Gabriel Harris and his staff.
READ How Kevin Quiambao's obsessive work ethic drives his NBA dreams
Unfortunately, nothing panned out as the Kings' 14-man squad headed to Sin City won't include the two-time UAAP men's basketball MVP.
The exclusion certainly isn't a knock on KQ, a three-level scorer who impressed with the Sono Skygunners of the KBL where he averaged 16.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
HE GOT GAME.
Skillswise, KQ got the goods. He also has the frame, 6-foot-5 and 205 lbs. with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. His motor is great, so is the basketball IQ. And at age 24, he is still approaching his prime.
Whether all of the above traits weren't enough or if KQ was just late for the party and didn't give enough runway for his peeps to arrange a workout with the Kings is unclear.
So, the dream of making it to the Las Vegas showcase and trace the footsteps of fellow full-blooded Filipinos Kai Sotto and Kiefer Ravena will have to wait.
If KQ wants another shot at this next year, there are a few things he can work on to merit the attention and interest of NBA scouts.
Quiambao shot 40 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3 in the KBL. Those numbers won't pass the grade in basketball's greatest playground.
Per an NBA.com stat, players in the 2024-25 season averaged 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3.
THE TONY RONZONE FACTOR.
While he is clearly a star in our Asian region, KQ is a relative unknown in the giant NBA pool where talents are dredged from all corners of the universe.
And that's why he needs a "connector" that will open doors for him in the league. It won't guarantee anything, only how he does in a team audition will determine that, but he will at least be inside the building.
That man is Tony Ronzone of powerhouse agency Wasserman Sports, which has hundreds of NBA players on its client list.
A former high-ranking executive with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks, Ronzone has more pull than a quietly raging rip tide.
The former coach of China's men's basketball team led by Yao Ming, Tony was instrumental in Sotto's Summer League appearance with the Orlando Magic in 2023.
KQ is currently listed as under the wings of the Rigorer Korean agency based in Busan, which is fine.
But for the dynamic forward to gain more NBA traction, he needs an ally such as the hard-charging, results-driven Ronzone.
Hopefully, both parties can hook up.
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