LA Salle star Kevin Quiambao is not the reigning UAAP MVP for nothing.
Displaying his reliability and leadership for the defending champions Green Archers, Quiambao took over in their 78-75 victory over the National University Bulldogs in their opening game in the 87th basketball tournament last Sunday night.
Quiambao, also last season’s finals MVP, finished with 22 points–none bigger than a left wing three-pointer that saved La Salle from the jaws of defeat, to go with eight rebounds and seven assists.
“I think, first of all, hindi nagki-click iyong kung ano iyong gusto namin itakbo buong game and then pinoint-out ko lang sa sarili ko na kailangan kong ‘take over mode’ na kailangan kumuha kami ng guy iyong may masasandalan sila,” Quiambao said. “So, ang ginawa ko lang is, naging glue guy lang ako, nag-lead by example ako. Iyon, good thing naman, pumasok iyong tira.
“Noong time na iyon, noong nakita kong tumama sa screen si Steve Nash [Enriquez of NU) so, may one or two seconds ako na tinignan ko iyong ring at tinignan ko kung ano iyong gagawin ng depensa. So, hindi nag-help iyong corner guy, so, tinake advantage ko na. Iyon, nalibre ako and good thing nga pumasok iyong tira,” he added.
Archers coach Topex Robinson gave Quiambao plaudits for his herocis.
“Again, that’s the beauty of having him. You know, those last few possessions of the game wherein he’s gonna make the right decision and we always tell this in our team, Kevin will win games for us, and he will lose games for us,” he said. “The fact that he had five turnovers was just evident of the freedom that he has.
“Then, iyon nga sinabi niya kanina, sisisihin ko rin naman siya kahit anong nangyari, so, he took the better route which is not only getting himself open but getting his teammates open.”
