Contrasting fates for KQ, Cagulangan

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TWO more Filipino cagers who opted to bring their acts overseas endured different fates in their debut in the Korean Basketball League over the weekend.

Former UAAP two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao suffered an ankle injury in the Goyang Sono Skygunners’ 57-84 home loss to the Seoul SK Knights last Sunday.

A Gilas Pilipinas mainstay, Quiambao sprained his right ankle after a bad landing after a three-point try at the 7:42 mark of the second quarter. He left the match for good.

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The 6-foot-7 Quiambao finished with six points and a rebound in nearly seven minutes of play. He scored his first points in the KBL via a triple late in the first quarter.

Quiambao, 23, is expected to sit out for at least four weeks after he was diagnosed with a ruptured ankle ligament after an MRI.

“Thank you for the prayers and support,” Quiambao said on his Instagram account. “Brb (Be right back) soon. Sono fighting!”

JD Cagulangan, who led the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons to the Promised Land at the expense of Quiambao’s Green Archers in the last UAAP cage wars, totaled seven markers, four boards, nine assists, and five steals in the Suwon KT Sonicboom’s 64-78 loss to the Seoul Samsu Thunder last Saturday.

“There’s a lot (of Filipinos in the KBL. One is Miguel Oczon, SJ Belangel, even Justin Gutang, my best friend Carl Tamayo. So, I’m excited to play against him,” Cagulangan, who was named finals MVP in last season’s Big Dance, said.

“Some of the Filipino guys are going overseas. Everyone is dreaming of playing overseas and I’m one of them. Unexpected blessings for Filipinos because now you have a lot of options.

“You go abroad, or you can stay in the Philippines. Option of (playing) overseas is way better,” he added.

Cagulangan said he is looking forward to making the best of his stint in Korea.

“I love to pass and I love to win. I’m very, very grateful, especially for this kind of opportunity this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that KT gave me,” he said. “As much as I wanted to celebrate Christmas because Christmas in the Philippines is very happy and everyone is giving gifts but I have a duty after the season that’s why I need to train hard and continue my work. It’s my dream to be here so I need to prepare.

“I want to win a championship especially since it’s my first year. I’m very, very excited.”

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