Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo relish being teammates again with Gilas Pilipinas

From teammates to foes, Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo are back to playing together as the two young cagers are set to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

The two rising stars relish the opportunity of playing beside each other once again.

"Sa akin, happy na magkakasama ulit kami," Quiambao said during Gilas' press conference on Monday at the PhilSports Arena.

"Ang dami naming challenges na napagdaanan nung high school kami, this time naman sa Gilas. Ire-represent namin ‘yung flag. Gagawin lang namin ‘yung best namin para sa team."

[For me, I'm happy that we're together again. We went through a lot of challenges together in high school, this time with Gilas. We'll represent the flag. We'll do our best for the team.]

Tamayo and Quiambao were teammates in high school, forming a formidable duo for the National University-Nazareth School Bullpups, towing the school to back-to-back titles in the UAAP Season 81 and 82 juniors basketball tournaments.

But they went separate ways with Tamayo playing for the University of the Philippines in college while Quiambao decided to go to De La Salle University a year later. Both won the Rookie of the Year award as Tamayo was named the top rookie in Season 84 and Quiambao won the plum the following season.

This won't be the first time that they reunited as teammates while donning the national colors.

In the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup, Tamayo and Quiambao suited up together for a youth-laden Gilas Pilipinas squad before they teamed up once again for the first window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

"Excited. Kasi magkalaban kami nung college ngayon may chance ulit magkakampi," Tamayo said.

"Knowing Kevin, yung chemistry namin as a teammate before alam namin ‘yung laro ng isa’t isa. Masaya ako na nakasama ko si Kevin for this Gilas stint."

[Excited. We played against each other in college but now we have a chance to be teammates. Knowing Kevin, our chemistry as teammates, we already know how the other plays. I'm happy to be with Kevin for this Gilas stint.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News