After leading De La Salle University to the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Championship last December 6, Kevin Quiambao had won it all.
The do-it-all forward was the Season 85 Rookie of the Year and in the next year, he became the first local to win the Season MVP plum since Kiefer Ravena did it back in 2015.
Then in the rollercoaster Finals series against University of the Philippines – which ended in a 73-69 Green Archers win in the rubber match – Quiambao was hailed as the Finals MVP.
With everything in the bag, most especially a title that broke La Salle’s seven-year drought, Quiambao had decided to call it quits in the collegiate ranks and turn professional.
However, he divulged on CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk episode last Tuesday why he decided to run it back with the Green Archers for Season 87.
“After nung Game 3, sobrang decided na ako na magja-Japan ako. Sobrang sinabi ko sa sarili ko na i-go ko na itong opportunity sa Japan,” recalled the 6-foot-6 generational talent.
“And then few days after, nag-chat sa akin si Coach Topex na parang nilalambing niya ako and nag-sink in sa akin lahat na, ‘Oo nga hindi ko na mababalikan itong UAAP if ever na kinuha ko itong Japan.’ So for the love sa school, for the love kay Coach Topex, for the love sa community ayun. Nag-decide ako to run it back and i-try na maging back-to-back,” he continued.
The triple-double threat bared that he got multiple offers from Japan, two offers from Korea, an offer from NBL-Australia, and an offer from a developmental team in Greece.
Having won every possible award that the UAAP hands out, there’s no other way for Quiambao but to aim for more.
Aside from the accolades though, the pride of Muntinlupa wants to improve his leadership skills, especially with vocal leaders Ben Phillips, Evan Nelle, and Mark Nonoy already gone.
“Siguro magback-to-back sa lahat. Back-to-back MVP, back-to-back champions, at mas maging role model sa next generation dahil yung UAAP,yung factor niya sa buhay ko… Hindi ko na maipaliwanag. Sobrang saya ko na dahil yung crowd pa lang, grabe na,” said Quiambao.
“E-enjoyin ko itong one more year ko dahil hindi natin masasabi ang future.”
The episode concluded in a “Fans Want To Know” segment where netizens from social media asked questions directed to Quiambao with the first being: “Any dream teammate from the NCAA or other leagues?”
Quiambao responded with a champion player as well in Jacob Cortez, who led San Beda University’s conquest of NCAA Season 99. He is the son of La Salle legend Mike Cortez and he admitted having an offer from the Green and White.
“Jacob Cortez,” said Quiambao followed with a quick smile and a shrug while shaking his head.
