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Kevin Quiambao provides one other feather to his cap as he earns Rookie of the Yr honors within the Korean Basketball League and helps lead his workforce, the Goyang Sono Skygunners, to the playoffs for the primary time
MANILA, Philippines – Kevin Quiambao turned the newest Filipino to win Rookie of the Yr within the Korean Basketball League, and for many who have witnessed how tirelessly he works, his newest achievement is nothing out of the bizarre.
Simply ask Jaylen Johnson, who teamed up with Quiambao within the KBL for the Goyang Sono Skygunners.
“I’m not likely stunned with him getting Rookie of the Yr. I’ve seen him work day in and time out,” stated Johnson, who now serves as import for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters within the PBA.
“He’s received excessive desires, I informed him go chase them. I consider in him, all the pieces he’s doing.”
Quiambao put collectively a high quality 2025-26 marketing campaign as he adopted within the footsteps of fellow Filipino standouts RJ Abarrientos and JD Cagulangan, who received Rookie of the Yr within the 2022-23 and 2024-25 KBL seasons, respectively.
The previous La Salle star averaged 15.3 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals to assist information Goyang to a 28-26 file, which allowed the Skygunners to clinch the fifth seed and advance to the playoffs for the primary time in workforce historical past.
It was a big enchancment from final season, the place Goyang completed eighth with a 19-35 file.
Recognized for his do-it-all play, Quiambao positioned within the high 20 in the complete KBL in a lot of the main statistical departments.
Quiambao ranked sixteenth in factors, eleventh in rebounds, 14th in assists, and nineteenth in steals as he proved to be an excellent complement to native star Lee Junghyun, who earned Most Beneficial Participant honors, and American import Nathan Knight.
“He’s prepared to present a workforce no matter they want. In case you want him to play the 5, he’s going to discover a technique to do it,” stated Johnson.
“That’s what makes him a particular participant — he’s so versatile. He’s a mismatch for everyone. His work ethic simply places him a step of everyone. He works so arduous.”
Other than his all-around brilliance, Quiambao additionally confirmed that availability is the very best capacity as one in all solely two Goyang gamers who noticed motion in all of their 54 video games, sharing the excellence with Knight.
Quiambao additionally led the league in taking part in time with a median of 34:46 minutes.
With Quiambao making issues occur, the Skygunners had been in a position to flip round a shaky begin that noticed them drop 22 of their first 36 video games as they went 13-2 within the months of February and March.
That spectacular two-month run included a 10-game successful streak, wherein Quiambao averaged 18.3 factors, 6.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.3 steals.
“Stayed constant when no one was watching,” Quiambao wrote on his social media accounts after his Rookie of the Yr coronation.
The award is the newest feather within the cap for the 24-year-old Quiambao, who has achieved a lot at his age following a exceptional collegiate stint with the Inexperienced Archers highlighted by two MVP alternatives, a championship, and a Finals MVP nod within the UAAP.
Quiambao has additionally been a Gilas Pilipinas mainstay and is taken into account one of many cornerstones of this system alongside Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Dwight Ramos.
For fellow nationwide workforce member and KBL Rookie of the Yr winner Abarrientos, Quiambao is about for better issues in his profession.
“He deserves all the pieces he has achieved and he deserves all the pieces he’ll obtain in life,” stated Abarrientos. “He’s extraordinarily hardworking. I wouldn’t be stunned if he achieves much more success abroad.” – Rappler.com
