logo
This Filipino skills trainer helped Kevin Quiambao land a spot in a private scrimmage in US

This Filipino skills trainer helped Kevin Quiambao land a spot in a private scrimmage in US

GMA Network21-07-2025
What started only as a personal trip to the United States for Patrick Tancioco turned into a chance to help rising basketball star Kevin Quiambao chase his NBA dream.
Quiambao was in the US in July, with training sessions in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.
Last week, he was also part of a private scrimmage hosted by Excel Sports Management, which was attended by scouts and front office personnel of several NBA teams.
READ MORE | Kevin Quiambao talks about his NBA dream and recent US training
Tancioco, who founded Better Basketball and trains top collegiate and professional players, traveled to the US to meet up with his mentor, NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen, and help run sessions with NBA players at the NBA Pro Day in Las Vegas.
Upon learning that Quiambao was in the same country, Tancioco decided to lend the Pinoy baller a hand and connected him with Tim Edwards of Excel, leading to Quiambao's participation in the workout.
"'Yun talaga ang pinunta ko dito, hindi si KQ. Na-tiyempo lang na nandito siya at kailangan niya ng tulong pero ako ang purpose ko dito ay i-meet si Drew Hanlen, 'yung mentor ko," Tancioco told GMA News Online in an interview last week.
"So meron akong friend na agent, five years ko na siyang kaibigan, si Tim Edwards. Nag-fall through 'yung ibang plano ni KQ dito so minessage ko si Tim."
[That's what I came here for, not KQ. It just so happened that he was here and he needed some help but my purpose was to meet my mentor Drew Hanlen… I have a friend who's also an agent, he's been my friend for five years, Tim Edwards. KQ's other plans fell through so I messaged Tim.]
Quiambao is no stranger to Edwards.
Tancioco shared that five years ago, he sent Edwards video featuring then-rising stars Carl Tamayo and Aldous Torculas—back when they were still playing for NU Nazareth School and UP Integrated School, respectively. The goal was to ask if either had the potential to make it to US NCAA Division I.
"But surprisingly ang napansin niya doon sa video ay si Kevin Quiambao. Nu'ng pinaalala ko kay Tim, sabi niya sakto kasi 'yung agency niya, which is Excel Agency, merong private runs,' Tancioco shared.
[Surprisingly, Kevin Quiambao was the one he noticed. When I reminded Tim, he said, it was fortunate because his agency, Excel Agency, was doing private runs.]
The 24-year-old Quiambao, for his part, spoke about the work he's put in while he was in the US.
"Tutuloy-tuloy lang. Siyempre for the love of the game, and then para sa country natin kasi I'm trying to aim na maging first Filipino full-blooded na makapasok sa NBA," Quiambao told GMA Integrated News' Martin Javier.
"Nothing is impossible naman."
[I just keep going. Of course, for the love of the game and for the country also because I'm trying to aim to become the first Filipino full-blooded player to make it to the NBA... Nothing is impossible.]
—with reporting from Martin Javier/JMB, GMA Integrated News
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NBA champion Isaiah Joe visits Manila
NBA champion Isaiah Joe visits Manila

GMA Network

time14 hours ago

  • GMA Network

NBA champion Isaiah Joe visits Manila

An NBA champion is in the Philippines. On Friday, Isaiah Joe of the Oklahoma City Thunder talked to the media before interacting with fans at the NBA Store in Mandaluyong. Joe is coming off his first NBA title as the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals last June. "You definitely have to see it to believe it. The fact that I've touched down here and I'm getting to see it is definitely amazing," Joe said about the Filipinos' love for basketball. Joe talks about the Philippines' love for basketball: You definitely have to see it to believe it... It's definitely amazing. It exceeds what people are saying. @gmasportsph — JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) August 1, 2025 "It actually exceeds what people say... Once you live through it and actually experience it, it's like wow, this is real." Last season, Joe posted averages of 10.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Asked if the Thunder can make another run for the title, Joe said they need to be hungrier than last season. "We have to be hungry, even more hungry than we were last season. I understand that there's a target on our backs. Nobody wants us to repeat. So have a zero-zero mindset that none of this that happened in the past carries over. Everything's new, it's a new slate," he added. Joe, 49th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, will also be holding activities in the Philippines this weekend. NBA star Ja Morant is also in the Philippines and showcased his talent at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. —GMA Integrated News

NBA star Ja Morant lights up BGC court in first Manila visit
NBA star Ja Morant lights up BGC court in first Manila visit

GMA Network

time14 hours ago

  • GMA Network

NBA star Ja Morant lights up BGC court in first Manila visit

Be it in Memphis or in Manila, Ja Morant made sure to turn every court into his own playground. The Grizzlies guard did just that in his rare Manila visit as part of his 'Make Then Watch' tour, which is aligned in his effort to connect and interact with local basketball stars. The 25-year-old high-flying guard made a huge entrance before obliging to the fans to hit the 'griddy' dance moves. Morant also watched from the sidelines as Team Barangay and Team La Salle went at it in a four-quarter exhibition game. Team La Salle is composed of alumni Jeron Teng, Ricci Rivero, and Marga Jimenez, while Team Barangay are spearheaded by other Pinoy stars Rhenz Abando, CJ Cansino, Jack Animam, and Andrei Ugaddan. Abando and Ugaddan threw a number of slams with the former NCAA Rookie MVP even getting a high-five from the NBA star. But Morant did not leave without making one of his own, completing an alleyoop dunk off a pass from a member of his camp. Hyped by the crowd, Morant then knocked down another two-handed hammer to close out the friendly game. Before dropping by the Philippines, Morant also made stops in other Asian countries China and Japan. —JKC, GMA Integrated News

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic meet about new hoops league —report
LeBron James, Nikola Jokic meet about new hoops league —report

GMA Network

timea day ago

  • GMA Network

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic meet about new hoops league —report

Apr 30, 2025; LeBron James moves to the basket against Julius Randle during the first half in Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. (Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images/REUTERS) NBA superstars LeBron James and Nikola Jokic would form a dominating duo, which is why there was so much interest in their recent get-together in France. While the meet-up between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets stars was not about forming an on-court partnership, it was about the reported global basketball league being backed by James' agent Maverick Carter, Front Office Sports reported Thursday. Jokic's agent, Misko Raznatovic, is known to have significant influence on basketball in Europe. A report from Bloomberg in January revealed Carter's interest to raise as much as $5 billion for a men's and women's league of international teams that would travel together to as many as eight different cities to play games then move to the next locale. Interested investors include the government of Singapore and the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which started LIV Golf, purchased Newcastle United of the English Premier League and formed a partnership with tennis' ATP and WTA tours. The NBA also is interested in starting a satellite league in Europe, while revealing this week that the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic will play games against each other in Berlin and London in January. --Field Level Media/Reuters

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store