Kevin Quiambao made history on Saturday night.
The 6-foot-8 ‘point forward’ delivered the first triple-double in UAAP Men’s Basketball in exactly five years, also setting the league’s record for most assists in a single game.
More importantly, De La Salle University got its sweet revenge against National University, winning 88-78 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Quiambao scored 17 points, dished out 14 assists, and grabbed 11 rebounds. Moreover, he posted four steals in 34 minutes and 12 seconds of play.
On October 28, 2018, then-UST Growling Tiger CJ Cansino scored 20 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and delivered 10 assists in their 79-68 win over the University of the East.
Despite his delight at achieving this rare feat – which is also the first in La Salle’s history since the computerization of stats in 2003 – Quiambao deflected the credit to Topex Robinson’s system.
Their rotations produced 30 assists against both the Bulldogs and the Growling Tigers last Wednesday.
“Siyempre masaya, pero first of all, nanggaling naman lahat ‘yun sa sistema ni Coach, lahat ng coaching staff namin,” said the Season 85 Rookie of the Year.
“Doon naman sa five years ago, ‘yung last na triple-double, sobrang sarap masurpass ‘yun at magkaroon ng sariling pangalan,” he added.
“Sobrang happy ako nakuha ko ‘yung achievement pero hindi pa dito natatapos, at focused lang kami next sa UP at enjoyin ko muna ‘yung break.”
Just last October 21, UE’s Noy Remogat recorded 13 assists in their loss to La Salle. That broke the 12-assist records of fellow Red Warrior Philip Manalang and FEU’s Terrence Romeo.
However, Quiambao bested that a week later with 14 of the Green Archers’ 30 assists.
“Yung mga assists siguro nanggaling sa sistema eh, kumbaga ‘yung flow ng sistema namin doon nanggaling lahat ng assists,” said Quiambao.
“Credit sa lahat ng kakampi ko, hindi ako makaka 14 assists kung hindi nila nashoot ‘yun, so thankful ako sa mga teammates ko na tiniyaga namin ‘yung game at sobrang ganda lang ng flow ng offense namin.”
According to La Salle assistant coach Gian Nazario, this performance by Quiambao did not surprise them, as they see this every day in training as well as the extra work he is putting in before and after games.
Quiambao, meanwhile, credited the team’s nutritionist, TimNutrition, and strength and conditioning coaches Migs Aytona and Gelo Vito.
“I think it’s the work that Kevin puts in. I’m sure Coach Topex mentioned this na during our games, kahit pre-game, post-game Kevin works out,” said Nazario, who attended the postgame interview as Robinson lost his voice during the thrilling game.
“The trust that he has with his teammates and the trust that his teammates have sa kanya, hindi mo siya masusukat kasi during practice we see it, and we’re not surprised na nangyayari ito during the games.”
Leading the league’s MVP race after the first round, Quiambao said that his conditioning is up to par with the program of their nutritionist and conditioning coaches and that he still feels great despite the heavy minutes he’s playing.
The Green Archers rose to 6-3, just a game behind the second-running Bulldogs at 7-2. They will go for their seventh win on November 5 against the league-leader University of the Philippines.
“Yung postgame or pregame workouts ko naka-depende ako sa program nila Coach Migs Aytona, nila Coach TimNutrition, Coach Gelo Vito,” shared the NU-Nazareth product.
“Nagtatransition siya sa game ko dahil alam mo ‘yung mental aspect na alam mong lumakas ka dahil nag-workout ka,” he continued.
“Good thing naman na-apply ko siya sa court, and kita naman sa minutes na may second wind pa, meron pa ngang third eh.”
