Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo are looking forward to having each other’s backs when they gear up for Gilas Pilipinas at least in the next four years. 

The big men duo, who brought National University Nazareth School to back-to-back UAAP championship victories in the juniors in their two-year stint with the Bullpups as teammates in Seasons 81 and 82, have been called up in the national team’s program for the long haul. 

Although Quiambao and Tamayo found themselves bunched up again with a veteran Gilas rotation in the past two years, the stints proved to be short lived. 

This time, though, the Tim Cone-coached program will begin seeing more of the duo as the Philippines opens the first window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Hong Kong on Feb. 22 before taking the home stand on Feb. 25 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. 

“Sa akin, happy na magkakasama ulit kami. 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,” said reigning UAAP MVP Quiambao during the national team’s press conference on Monday, Feb. 19. 

“Excited. Kasi magkalaban kami nung college ngayon may chance ulit magkampi [for the long-term program] after high school. Knowing Kevin, yung chemistry namin as teammates before alam namin ‘yung laro ng isa’t isa. Masaya ako na nakasama ko siya for this Gilas stint,” former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons big man Tamayo said. 

In the seniors action, Tamayo was hailed UAAP Season 84 Rookie of the Year after helping UP to its first championship title in 36 years in 2022, Quiambao then accomplished exactly the same feats the following two seasons. 

While Tamayo decided to cut his collegiate career short after two seasons to pursue the pro rank in Japan B. League and eventually became a champion with the Ryukyu Golden Kings in only his debut, Quiambao committed to La Salle for the third consecutive year while suiting up for Strong Group Athletics in its back-to-back stints in Dubai. 

With renewed partnership between the two big men, they not only have each other to rely on but their veteran teammates as well. 

“‘Yun nga sinasabi ng mga veterans na wag sayangin ‘yung ganitong opportunity dahil hindi lahat ng tao may ganitong opportunity. Gawin mo lang yung role mo kung ano man maitutulong mo sa team whether points, rebounds or ano man ‘yan,” Quiambao said. 

On the other hand, Tamayo has been getting some good advice from his professionally more experienced teammates especially after his departure from the Japanese league just last month. 

“Siguro kila kuya LA [Tenorio], kuya Justin [Brownlee], kila kuya Japeth [Aguilar], siguro kasi alam nila ‘yung system ni coach Tim tinuturuan nila kami paano ma-execute and ‘yung lifestyle sa pro. Paano alagaan ‘yung sarili mo, ‘yung katawan mo. Paano ka mag-isip sa loob ng court. ‘Yun ‘yung mga lessons na bihira mo marinig kasi ‘yung mga taong tulad nila doon mo lang maririnig ‘yung ganitong payo. And pinaka malaking bagay is kung paano alagaan ‘yung sarili namin kahit saan kami mapunta,” said Tamayo.