Gilas Pilipinas’ roster for the 2026 Asian Games continues to take shape—but not in the way head coach Tim Cone would have hoped.
Kevin Quiambao has become the latest key player expected to skip the continental showcase, further shrinking the pool of familiar faces available for the Philippines after AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos were also ruled out due to overseas club commitments.
Fresh from helping Gilas in the fourth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, Quiambao is set to immediately shift his focus back to South Korea, where he is expected to report to the Goyang Sono Skygunners following the national team’s final qualifier on August 30.
The timing leaves little room for the reigning UAAP MVP-turned-KBL standout to join the Philippine squad for the Asian Games, as Goyang Sono begins preparations for the 2026-27 Korean Basketball League season with heightened expectations after reaching last year’s finals.
Quiambao has quietly carved out an important role for Gilas during the World Cup qualifiers, averaging 9.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while providing versatility on both ends of the floor.
His absence follows similar situations involving Edu and Ramos, who are both expected to return to Japan after the qualifiers to rejoin Gunma Crane Thunders and Levanga Hokkaido, respectively.
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The Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team suffered a major blow after Kevin Quiambao, AJ Edu, and Dwight Ramos were all ruled unavailable for its upcoming 2026 Asian Games title defense.
READ: https://t.co/WYQirVWnrd pic.twitter.com/1v46mtqWGF
— Daily Guardian (@dailyguardianph) July 30, 2026
Both B.League clubs are scheduled to compete in the B.League Manila Games on September 9 and 10 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, making their immediate return to Japan a priority.
Despite the growing list of unavailable players, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas still has reason for optimism.
SBP executive director Erika Dy remains hopeful that Bennie Boatwright’s naturalization process will be completed before the Asian Games officially begin on September 10.
If his documents are finalized in time, Boatwright could provide Gilas with a significant boost in the frontcourt.
Unlike FIBA tournaments, the Asian Games follow a different eligibility system, opening the possibility for Cone to deploy a formidable frontline featuring naturalized stars Justin Brownlee, Angelo Kouame, and Boatwright together—an option unavailable in FIBA-sanctioned competitions.
As overseas commitments continue to reshape the national team’s roster, Gilas now faces the challenge of balancing player availability while assembling a squad capable of contending on one of Asia’s biggest sporting stages.
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