Kevin Quiambao has joined an elite group of student-athletes who have won back-to-back UAAP Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player titles, a distinction he earned ahead of Game 2 of the Season 87 Finals on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The versatile 6-foot-7 forward now stands alongside De La Salle Green Archers 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.
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 LaSallian community, thank you UAAP community. Hindi ko ito makukuha kung hindi dahil sa culture ng DLSU, yung coaches, managers, players. Nagpapasalamat lang ako and thank you UAAP community. God bless all po,” said the 23-year-old from Muntinlupa City.
Quiambao also took home the PSBankable Player of the Season award, the Hyundai Exceptional Player honor, and the Skechers Best Performance of the Season, earning a total of P190,000 in cash prizes.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Joining Quiambao in this season’s McDonald’s Mythical Five is his La Salle teammate Mike Phillips.
Phillips averaged 12.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game with 74.929 SPs. He made his return to the Mythical Team after previously making it in UAAP Season 84.
The 6-foot-9 Filipino-American big man was also named the Motolite Pangmatagalan Maaasahan Player of the Season, earning an additional P30,000.
The rest of the Mythical Team consists of first-time honorees JD Cagulangan of the University of the Philippines, who averaged 11.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game for 69.167 SPs; Far Eastern University’s Mohamed Konateh, who dominated with 16.7 points, 16.7 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game, earning 68.643 SPs; and University of Santo Tomas’ Nic Cabanero, who showcased his scoring prowess with 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game for 61.000 SPs.
Konateh was also named the AIA Rebounder of the Season, earning P50,000 in prize money.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, Veejay Pre clinched the Nissin Cup Noodles Rookie of the Year honor with 50.857 SPs, securing P30,000.
Pre, the UAAP Season 86 Boys’ 3×3 Basketball MVP, impressed with averages of 7.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
Pre, a 6-foot-5 forward from Pampanga, becomes the seventh Tamaraw in the past 35 years to win this award.
He follows in the footsteps of Johnny Abarrientos (Season 52), Mark Victoria (Season 59), Leo Avenido (Season 62), Arwind Santos (Season 65), JR Cawaling (Season 70), and Terrence Romeo (Season 73).
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Growling Tigers were also given their third-place trophy.
This is the first time UST made it to the podium in the sport since a silver finish in Season 82.
