MVP frontrunner Kevin Quiambao delivered the first triple-double in five years as De La Salle got back at National University, 88-78, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

The Green Archers brushed off a gritty Bulldogs side in the opening period to claim their third straight win and climbed 6-3 in the standings. 

Sophomore forward Quiambao achieved the feat as the first Green Archer and the only non-guard in the league since Oct. 28, 2018 when CJ Cansino, then with the University of Santo Tomas, tallied 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Quiambao lived up to the billing with an all-around brilliance of 17 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists including four steals. 

La Salle greeted the halftime break with a 50-39 lead and managed to keep itself ahead en route to the payback victory. 

Francis Escandor’s two freebies eventually gave the Green Archers their biggest lead of the match, 69-51, in the third period. 

Although the Bulldogs refused to completely back down, the Green Archers were simply moving the ball better and executing consistently in the second half until the final buzzer. 

It was also a revenge of sorts for La Salle, which fell 80-77 against NU in overtime in their opening-round encounter. 

Omar John and Mike Malonzo paced the Bulldogs with 14 and 10 points, respectively, as the tournament co-leader was handed its second loss of the season for a 7-2 slate.

The Scores:

     DLSU (88) – Quiambao 17, Policarpio 15, Nelle 14, Nonoy 10, Cortez 9, Macalalag 7, Nwankwo 5, David 4, Escandor 4, Abadam 3, Austria 0, B. Phillips 0, Gollena 0.

     NU (78) – John 16, Baclaan 11, Malonzo 10, Lim 10, Figueroa 9, Palacielo 9, Casinillo 6, Gulapa 5, Parks 2, Yu 0, Galinato 0.

     Quarterscores: 24-26, 50-39, 69-55, 88-78