Quiambao savors Gilas opportunity

Rising star Kevin Quiambao is savoring the opportunity to be part of Gilas Pilipinas in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

The 21-year-old Quiambao said the experience that will gain playing with the country's elite players will be enough to boost his career with De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

Quiambao was a last-minute addition in the roster that Gilas paraded against Jordan late Monday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

He is set to provide ceiling and rebounding to the Filipino squad that was cripple by the absence of big men Kai Sotto, Japeth Aguilar, Carl Tamayo, Raymond Almazan and Poy Erram.

Although he was part of the Gilas squad that pulled off a 74-66 victory over Jordan in their previous game in the fifth window, Quiambao said playing in front of the home crowd will definitely be a good experience.

"Just the experience of being here, learning from them is enough for me," Quiambao, who replaced Calvin Oftana in Gilas' final roster against Jordan.

"It's good for my knowledge and I'm willing to help out in any which way I can."

Quiambao had religiously attended the weekly workouts since they restarted more than a month ago.

The decision of allowing Quiambao to take over the spot of Oftana had somehow added size on the small front court of the Philippine quintet.

Oftana is set to leave along with the rest of the Tropang Giga for the coming East Asia Super League Champion's Week, which will be held from 1 to 5 March in Utsunomiya and Okinawa, Japan.

June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez of San Miguel Beer are also set to leave right away to join TNT Tropang Giga as the Philippine Basketball Association's representative in the fledgling event.

Outside of Fajardo, the 6-foot-10 center and a six-time Most Valuable Player in the PBA, there's no other legitimate center in the Gilas squad.

Mason Amos, an 18-year-old, incoming freshman of Ateneo de Manila University, got his baptism of fire against Lebanon and immediately showed his readiness to compete and play alongside the big boys of local basketball.

Justin Brownlee, a 6-foot-4 forward from Ginebra who also saw action for the first time as the country's naturalized player, was even tasked to play at center for several stretches while Jamie Malonzo banked on his athleticism and long frame to offset the team's lack of size.

"We really thought that's going to be key off the bench," Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said, referring to Amos and Malonzo playing the role as back up big men.

"They're basically our big men off the bench, after June Mar and Justin. Basically, it's only Mason and Jamie that we had because we're decimated."

"The fact that they both played well, I think is a big factor. The bench really gave us the spark, going on crucial runs, both in the first and second half."