Quiambao, Edu, Ramos to miss Gilas’ Asian Games title defense

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team suffered a major blow after Kevin Quiambao, AJ Edu, and Dwight Ramos were all ruled unavailable for its upcoming 2026 Asian Games title defense.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy confirmed the development on July 28, 2026, during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission media room.

According to Dy, the trio will miss the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, due to prior commitments to their respective overseas basketball clubs.

Quiambao is expected to fly to South Korea to join the Sono Skygunners’ offseason training camp in preparation for the 2026–2027 Korean Basketball League season.

The former De La Salle University star is fresh off a stellar two-game campaign during the last window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers, averaging 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists against New Zealand and Australia.

When Justin Brownlee underwent an unexpected shooting slump, it was Quiambao who sparked Gilas’ offense alongside Juan Gomez de Liaño.

Meanwhile, Edu and Ramos, both playing as Asian imports in Japan for the Gunma Crane Thunders and Levanga Hokkaido, respectively, will have a scheduling conflict as the B.League is set to begin on Sept. 22, 2026.

The 20th Asian Games is scheduled to open on Sept. 19, 2026, just three days before Japan’s premier basketball league tips off.

It will now be a next-man-up mentality for the Filipino hoopers, as Dy bared that they have already submitted an initial 30-man lineup to the Asian Games Organizing Committee.

In retrospect, Gilas successfully ended the Philippines’ 61-year gold medal drought during the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Before defeating Jordan for the gold medal, Gilas had to overcome host China in the semifinals.

Down by seven points with only 1:36 remaining in the crucial semifinal game, the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team looked dead in the water and was on the verge of crumbling in front of a hostile crowd.

Brownlee then delivered one of the greatest performances in Gilas history, drawing comparisons to Tracy McGrady’s famous late-game heroics against the San Antonio Spurs.

Brownlee carried the national team on his back, scoring eight straight points in 67 seconds to lift Gilas to a stunning 77–76 victory and a berth in the gold medal game.

Against Jordan, it was a total team effort for the Filipinos as they avenged their only loss of the tournament, which came during the preliminary round.

Can Gilas Pilipinas defend its Asian Games crown and win back-to-back championships in Japan?