ATHLETIC Filipino wingman Kevin Quiambao was named the Korean Basketball League Rookie of the Year at the close of the regular season.
Flashing all-around numbers of 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game contest, the former La Salle stalwart helped his team Goyang Sono Skygunners to the playoffs for the first time ever.
The Skygunners wound up with a 28–26 record at the close of the 2025-26 KBL regular season to earn the fifth seed. They will face the Seoul SK Knights in the best-of-three quarterfinals.
Quiamabo, the former two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player, has made a significant impact for Goyang, which finished with a woeful 19-35 record last season.
The sweet-shooting, athletic Filipino forward became the third straight Filipino to capture the Rookie of the Year award in the KBL after RJ Abarrientos (Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus) and JD Cagulangan (Suwon KT Sonicboom).
Abarrientos now plays for Barangay Ginebra, while Cagulangan sustained a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) early this season.
Quiambao’s vast improvement has undoubtedly benefited Gilas Pilipinas, with the Goyan Sono import averaging 6.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists during the first four games of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
On the other hand, fellow Filipino reinforcement Ethan Alvano cracked the KBL’s Best Five behind solid per-game averages of 17.7 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds for the Wonju DB Promy.
The 29-year-old Alvano, who won the 2024 KBL Most Valuable Player plum, earned his second Best Five spot.
Alvano’s Wonju ballclub ended the regular season with a 33–21 win-loss record en route to sealing the third seed and will face the sixth-ranked Busan KCC Egis in a best-of-three quarterfinal series.