“Nothing is too big for him”: Tim Cone lavishes praise on Kevin Quiambao despite FIBA Asia Cup exit

The Philippine men’s national basketball team’s 2025 FIBA Asia Cup campaign came to an end in the quarterfinals after suffering an 84-60 defeat to Australia on Wednesday, August 13, at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah.

One of the bright spots for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup was the performance of young forward Kevin Quiambao, who delivered important contributions whenever given the opportunity by head coach Tim Cone to showcase his talents on the court.

Quiambao fueled a second-half surge in Gilas’ opening game against Chinese Taipei. Despite the loss, he recorded 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists. He received limited minutes against New Zealand and Iraq but proved why he’s a talent to watch in their crucial game against hosts Saudi Arabia. The 24-year-old finished with 17 points, including two three-pointers in overtime, along with three assists, three steals, and one rebound to help Gilas book their spot in the quarterfinals.

‘BABAWI PO KAMI AT LALABAN PO KAMI PARA SA BAYAN ULIT’ 🇵🇭

Despite Gilas Pilipinas’ quarterfinal exit in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, Kevin Quiambao shared his pride in playing for the country and thanked every Filipino who supported them in their journey.#GilasPilipinas #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/XacVSF03oV

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) August 13, 2025

Cone lauded the young star’s impact, saying, “Nothing is too big for him.”

“Kevin is not afraid of the moment. I think that’s the best way to describe Kevin. Nothing is too big for him, and he will play the same way whether he is playing here in the Asia Cup or in a barangay league. He is going to bring it all the time and is not afraid to step up and take the big shot when it’s presented to him,” Cone said in a media interaction.

“That’s what makes him special. We are still learning a lot about Kevin because he is the young gun on the team. I think he’s the youngest player. He’s battling for his position, he’s battling for minutes, and he just keeps wowing us. He is becoming a vital cog,” he added.

Quiambao also stood out in their loss to Australia, leading the team with 17 points and four rebounds, further showing why he may become the cornerstone of the Gilas program in the future.

The 24-year-old also has aspirations of becoming the first full-blooded Filipino to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He recently spent time in the United States, working out with several NBA teams. However, despite his efforts, Quiambao was left off the Sacramento Kings’ roster for the upcoming NBA 2K26 Summer League and failed to make a strong impression during his workouts.

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