Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao will have to shoulder heavier loads in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers’ fourth window with Gilas Pilipinas’ resident naturalized player Justin Brownlee unavailable.
The two 25-year-olds are expected to take on a significant portion of Brownlee’s minutes, as all three play similar positions.
The Philippines will face Jordan on August 28 and Iran on August 30 to begin its second-round campaign. It will be an uphill climb for the Nationals, who enter Group E with a 2-4 win-loss record and a four-game losing streak.
Only the top three teams in Groups E and F, along with the best fourth-placed team, will earn a ticket to the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
“I think challenge para sa amin kasi alam naman ng lahat kung gaano kalaking part si JB sa national team, especially sa system ni Coach Tim (Cone). Siguro, yun ang challenge na nasa harapan namin, so bawat isa dapat talagang magtulong-tulong para mapunan namin yung pagkawala ni JB for this window,” said Tamayo.
“I think we’re practicing hard naman to prepare the team for this window. Hopefully, makuha natin yung dalawang panalo para bigger chance para makapaglaro tayo sa World Cup.”
(C) FIBA
Brownlee averaged 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals in five games during the Asian Qualifiers’ first round. He missed Gilas’ final game in Group A due to a hamstring strain and peroneal tendinopathy in his right leg, as well as left knee swelling and cartilage defects.
Both Tamayo and Quiambao saw their minutes and roles increase during the third window, with Brownlee held in check by New Zealand on July 3 before missing the game against Australia on July 6.
Quiambao, who is averaging 9.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in the qualifiers, is ready to help fill the void left by Brownlee.
“From the start na kinuha ako ni Coach Tim on the very first window, sinabi ko na sa sarili ko na stay ready lang ako every time. Whenever may opportunity na dumating, i-seize ko lang,” said the 6-foot-4 forward, who plays for Goyang Sono in South Korea.
Tamayo is also embracing the challenge while calling on the entire 15-man pool to collectively fill the role Brownlee plays for Gilas.
Also included in the pool are big men Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, and June Mar Fajardo. Meanwhile, CJ Perez, RJ Abarrientos, Troy Rosario, Dwight Ramos, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Scottie Thompson, and Chris Newsome complete the lineup.
“Siguro, kung ano lang yung puwede kong maiambag sa team na magiging effective, kasi iba yung team na ito eh. There’s a lot of talent in this team, so dapat we stick to the role na dapat naming gawin to help the team win the two games na parating,” said the 6-foot-8 Tamayo, who also plays for Changwon LG, also in South Korea.
“It’s gonna be crucial for us, especially sa amin ni KQ kasi wala si Justin. I don’t think naman na magagawa namin yung ginagawa ni Justin, I mean, no one in our team can be like Justin. Pero kung ano yung kaya naming ibigay para mapunan din yun, gagawin namin.”
