Kevin Quiambao was admittedly dismayed over his subpar performance following De La Salle’s 97-67 Game 1 defeat against University of the Philippines on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Mall of Asia Arena in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament. 

The Green Archers were visibly surprised and couldn’t match the Fighting Maroons’ defensive game that saw them succumb in the most lopsided finals loss in the Final Four era. 

Quiambao is set to be crowned as first local Most Valuable Player in the league after Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Kiefer Ravena won the back-to-back individual plum in 2014 and 2015.

“For me, personally, nagulat ako sa defensive looks na binigay nila. Hindi ako nakapag-adjust agad. My fault din kasi isa ako sa leader ng team. So, kailangan ko lang mag-adjust and mag-move on,” Quiambao said. 

“‘Yung resilience nung team hindi namin nakita throughout the game. Marami kaming kailangan i-work on. Lalo na sa akin sa sarili ko dahil isa nga ako sa inaasahan ng team. Kailangan ko lang din i-improve kung ano pa ‘yung pwede i-improve,” he added. 

The 22-year-old big man was held to only 11 points in the endgame, which was an obvious far cry from his usual numbers that led to the individual recognition. 

“Siyempre ‘yung mindset na lagi kong sinasabi one game at a time. Focus muna kami sa Game 2 and then kailangan lang namin gawin kung ano pa ‘yung kailangan namin i-improve and i-cover up ‘yung mga things na pagkakamali namin ngayon,” Quiambao said. “After the game, siyempre ako sobra akong nadismaya lalo na sa pinakita ko. As in minus 22 in the whole game. Sobrang sama. Good thing naman na series tong finals na to, so may Game 2 pa.”

La Salle was riding on a nine-game winning streak before UP struck first in their best-of-three championship clash. 

Still, Quiambao refused to let the MVP award be the last trophy he will get his hands on before the year ends as La Salle seeks to extend the series. 

He is set to be awarded in a ceremony before the tip-off in Game 2 on Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

“For me, hindi ko naman iniisip ‘yung MVP award. Siguro isipin ko lang kung ano ‘yung kailangan namin sa next game dahil sobrang halaga nitong Game 2 na to,” said Quiambao.

“For us, ‘yung mindset namin kailangan namin ibahin, ‘yung approach namin sa game. Medyo na-disappoint talaga ako sa pinakita ko. This coming Game 2, expect niyo na ibang Kevin Quiambao ‘yung gagawin ko,” he concluded.