Kevin Quiambao will fly to the United States for intense training with the goal of becoming the latest Filipino to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Summer League.
Reports have it that the 23-year-old forward is taking a short break after missing the playoffs with the Goyang Sono Skygunners in the Korean Basketball League.
He will fly to the US to train from June to July, giving him enough time to prepare for the Summer League in Las Vegas on 10 July.
Regardless of what happens, Quiambao can still return to the Skygunners as his contract, which will last until 2027, will still remain intact.
Quiambao will remain available for Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA Asia Cup, which runs from 5 to 17 August in Saudi Arabia.
The former De La Salle University star has been a key player as he posted averages of 16.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in 23 games for the Skygunners, who finished eighth with a 19-35 win-loss record.
But should Quiambao’s Summer League stint come into fruition, he will be the third Filipino to see action after Ray Parks and Kai Sotto, who played for the Dallas Mavericks in 2015 and the Orlando Magic in 2023, respectively.
Filipino coaches Jimmy Alapag and Ariel Vanguardia also had Summer League experience as they called the shots for the Sacramento Kings and the Atlanta Hawks.
The NBA has been calling for Quiambao since last year.
In 2024, reports floated that he was approached by the New York Knicks to join the Summer League while he was still playing for Strong Group Athletics in the 33rd Dubai Invitational Basketball Championship.
But head coach Charles Tiu denied the reports, saying that nobody from the Knicks organization made a move.
Quiambao will remain available for Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA Asia Cup, which runs from 5 to 17 August in Saudi Arabia.