Tiu says Quiambao not going to NBA

Kevin Quiambao SGA PHOTO

The head coach of Strong Group Athletics (SGA) denied that his star player Kevin Quiambao will suit up for an NBA team.

“Can I just say, there is nothing about Kevin Quiambao and the Knicks right now. Zero,” wrote SGA head coach Charles Tiu on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

A now-deleted video of SGA’s media handler Nico Rocha said that Quiambao, the reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player, was being invited to play in the NBA Summer League with the New York Knicks, but no decision has been reached.

“And I confirm [that] he did get offered to play for the Summer League. Yes, he did. He got offered to play in the Summer League, but there is no decision yet,” said Rocha.

“What matters is he got offered by New York to try out in the Summer League. And that’s already a big plus, already a big win for Philippine basketball considering na we were trying to get the first Filipino, pure blooded Filipino into the NBA. And it all starts there.”

Rocha has since deleted his video and has gone private on Instagram.

Tiu, meanwhile, said that Rocha had “no authority” in making the announcement.

Quiambao would have been the second home-grown Filipino to play in the NBA Summer League after Kai Sotto’s stint with the Orlando Magic last year.

The NBA is currently halfway into its regular season and the Summer League is scheduled to take place in July.

Quiambao and SGA topped Group B with a 5-0 card at the Dubai International Basketball Championship in the United Arab Emirates.