Kevin Quiambao expressed his frustration with De La Salle University’s complacency and its inability to see out the result.
DLSU lost to National University, 80-77, in overtime in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament last Sunday.
The Green Archers seemed poised to win the game with 12.5 seconds remaining in regulation, only for center Michael Phillips to miss two free throws.
La Salle then conceded five unanswered points to NU’s Pat Yu in overtime, sealing their second defeat of the campaign.
What hurt Quiambao even more was that his performance, which saw him produce 25 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, was not enough to secure a crucial victory for La Salle.
“Everyday naman learning process,” said the Gilas Pilipinas pool member. “Yun nga sinasabi ni Coach (Topex Robinson) and nangyari nga, wala na ako magagawa. Yun nga sinasabi sa amin ni coach na dapat wala kang panghihinayangan. Dapat ginawa pala namin itong mga situation.
“For me, sobrang feel bad ako sa larong to dahil may mga instances na feeling namin sa amin na. Dun sa last two possessions, hindi ko na-kontrol yun.”
The result means that the Green Archers have now lost to two members of last season’s Final Four. La Salle fell to Ateneo de Manila University, 72-77, on October 4.
There were some similarities between that defeat and this latest one: missing a lot of free throws, losing the rebounding battle, and questionable rotations among players.
While it’s only the first round, there are clearly many issues La Salle needs to address if it wants to end a seven-year championship drought.
“Medyo kailangan lang namin mag-focus sa sarili namin. Kailangan namin i-address agad dahil two days away na kami kaagad sa UP. Nangyari na to sa NU so tapos na to. Madami akong natutunan, sobra,” said Quiambao.
La Salle will next face league leaders University of the Philippines, whom Robinson described as “the top team in college right now.”
A win against the Fighting Maroons would be a step towards redemption for the Green Archers – until their next loss, of course. The margin for error is very slim in the UAAP, especially for one of the country’s most prestigious programs.
The only option is to go for victory.
“Moving forward, excited akong makatapat yung UP,” said Quiambao.
“Magfo-focus kami sa kung ano ang meron kami ngayon and, yun nga, yung sinasabi ko palagi na 16-man strong kailangan namin i-instill, win or lose, kahit anong situation papasukan namin.”
