Kevin Quiambao knows that he and his De La Salle Green Archers have momentum on their side after their 72-69 win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles, which gave them a second-round sweep in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Quiambao, who is the frontrunner for the Most Valuable Player award this season, led La Salle with 14 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
His stellar string of performances have led the Green Archers with an 11-3 record on the back of an eight-game winning streak.
And a twice-to-beat advantage is all but a formality.
“For me, happy ako na nakuha namin yung panalo. Kahit nga medyo hard-fought yung panalo, nag-stick kami sa system. Kumbaga, tapos na tong Ateneo. Focus na kami sa Final Four,” said the former NU Bullpups standout.
“Lagi nga sinasabi ni coach, yung growth ng team simula nung natalo kami ng UP nung first round, talagang umangat. Credit yan siyempre sa lahat ng teammates ko dahil binaba nila yung ego nila para sa system ni coach — ako, lalo na ako. Sobrang thankful ako na nakuha namin yung panalo, and on to the next.”
The sophomore forward has raised his game this season to the point that he has taken the mantle of King Archer.
The 6-foot-4 ‘point forward’ is consistently showing why he was hotly recruited by most schools and why he is one of Philippine basketball’s brightest prospects.
With his array of skills, the Gilas Pilipinas pool member is such a potent weapon for coach Topex Robinson.
His performances have prompted fans to serenade him with ‘M-V-P’ chants, and the former Phoenix Super LPG head coach feels privileged to have a player of his caliber on his team.
“He just puts so much support sa amin. You cannot question his overall contribution sa team. He just ups the level of everything sa amin,” said Robinson.
“KQ makes me a smart coach. Most of the time it’s not me deciding but this guy.”
Unless the NU Bulldogs win by 39 points against the UP Fighting Maroons tomorrow, the Green Archers will secure a twice-to-beat advantage.
This achievement marks a massive turnaround from last season, which saw La Salle lose to Adamson University in the playoff for the fourth spot.
While Quiambao and his teammates are targeting something higher than just a Final Four ticket, this milestone has exorcised some demons from the previous year.
And Quiambao is hell-bent on ending La Salle’s seven-year title drought.
“Sobrang saya na nakaabot kami ng Final Four ngayon knowing na kaming dalawa ni Mike (Phillips) hindi nakapaglaro against Adamson,” he said.
“Simula nung hinawakan ni Coach Topex yung program, talaga yung level umangat. Nakikita mo naman day-by-day kung pano siya magturo, pano niya kami i-handle,” the resident of Muntinlupa continued.
“Credit din sa lahat ng coaching staff, lalong-lalo na strength and conditioning namin. Last season, sobrang dami naming injuries. Ngayon, manageable naman lahat and nag-stick lang ako sa system and yung learning process nandiyan pa rin.”
