Kevin Quiambao.–STRONG GROUP ATHLETICS PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Kevin Quiambao earned a spot in the All-Tournament Team despite Strong Group Athletics’ heartbreaking runner-up finish in the Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Quiambao ended his stellar stint with a mythical selection after shining bright for the Philippines side, which has a slew of American reinforcements led by former NBA superstar Dwight Howard.
The La Salle standout, however, had his worst game of the tournament in the final where he was scoreless after missing all of his five shots from the field as SGA absorbed a heartbreaking 77-74 loss to Al Riyadi of Lebanon on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer on Monday morning (Manila time) at Al Nasr Club.
But overall, the versatile forward did enough to be named among the top players in the tournament. Lebanese star Wael Arakji was named MVP.
Quiambao, the reigning UAAP Season 86 and Finals MVP averaged 18.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists for Strong Group, which swept five games in the group stage and took down AS Sale of Morocco in the quarterfinal and Beirut Sports Club in the semifinal.
The 22-year-old Quiambao turned heads in his second Dubai International Basketball Championship campaign as he got a naturalization offer from the United Arab Emirates national team.
Quiambao was also part of SGA’s maiden campaign last year when they got eliminated in the quarterfinal.