FACING a seven-point deficit late, newly-minted two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao of La Salle simply refused to let the reigning titlist down against University of the Philippines last night.
Showing the hearts of champions, Quiambao carried the Green Archers to a nail-biting 76-75 decision over the Fighting Maroons in Game 2 of their best-of-3 finals showdown for the 87th UAAP basketball tournament crown before a sellout crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The 6-foot-7 Quiambao knocked down two backbreaking three-pointers in La Salle’s telling 10-2 windup that erased a 66-73 deficit in the final 4:46.
UP still had a chance to win it all but Gerry Abadiano missed on a last-gasp three-point try at the buzzer in a frenetic endgame that saw Maroon Francis Lopez muff four free throws and Archers Mike Phillips and Quiambao misfire two apiece.
“First, I just wanna be clear that, you know, KQ is just one of us. When we were down and out, these guys just told everybody that just don’t give up, just keep playing. I guess we made the necessary scouts in the end game and just gave us the opportunity to really,” La Salle coach Topex Robinson said after his charges atoned for a 63-75 loss in Game 1 last Sunday. “To connect from the outside but I don’t know what happened and I don’t know what transpired but we’re so grateful that we got to see another day and get to play another game for the championship.”
In front of 17,112 fans, Quiambao tallied 22 points, to go with nine rebounds and two assists for the Archers while Phillips chipped in 18 markers and 12 boards.
The winner-take-all third match is set this Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Quiambao has also joined an elite group of student-athletes who have won back-to-back UAAP plus, a distinction he got prior to Game 2.
Quiambao now stands alongside La Salle legends Jun Limpot (Seasons 52-53), Mark Telan (Seasons 59-60), Don Allado (Seasons 61-62), and Ben Mbala (Seasons 79-80), who have all claimed the prestigious MVP award in consecutive seasons. – With Abby Toralba
Other UAAP products who have achieved this feat include UE’s Allan Caidic (Seasons 47-48), Ateneo’s Jun Reyes (Seasons 50-51), UST’s Dennis Espino (Seasons 56-57), Ateneo’s Rich Alvarez (Seasons 63-64), FEU’s Arwind Santos (Seasons 67-68), NU’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (Seasons 74-75), and Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena (Seasons 77-78).
In his third year, Quiambao posted impressive averages of 16.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game, leading the league in statistical points with a total of 81.357 SPs.
This award adds to Quiambao’s list of UAAP achievements, which includes being part of the UAAP Season 82 Boys’ Basketball Mythical Team, winning the UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year, earning two Mythical Team selections, and securing championships in both boys’ and men’s 5-on-5 basketball, as well as men’s 3×3 basketball.
“First of all, thank you God, thank you La Sallian community, thank you UAAP community,” Quiambao said. “Hindi ko ito makukuha kung hindi dahil sa culture ng La Salle, iyong coaches, managers, players.
“Nagpapasalamat lang ako and thank you UAAP community. God bless all po.”
