MVP frontrunner Kevin Quiambao’s late-game heroics towed De La Salle past University of the Philippines, 88-79, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday night, Nov. 5, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

The Green Archers hung tough against the gritty Fighting Maroons in the fourth period to come away with a 7-3 slate in the standings. 

With the win, La Salle kept its bid alive for a twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs. 

Quiambao poured 11 of La Salle’s last 14 points in the closing period to finish with a double-double outing of 22 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three crucial steals down the stretch. 

Four other Green Archers breached the double-digit mark, with Evan Nelle delivering 17 points, four rebounds and six assists. Michael Phillips ended up with a double-double showing of his own with 15 markers and 12 rebounds. 

Meanwhile, Jonnel Policarpio and Francis Escandor had 11 points apiece in the balanced attack. 

Before coming home with the payback win, La Salle recovered after completely blowing away its biggest advantage of 53-39 in the match as CJ Cansino hit the lead-taking bank shot with 4:45 remaining in the game, 74-75. 

However, Quiambao, who was wounded in his left temple in the second period after being fouled by Luis Pablo, took charge from there on. 

The UP side’s fightback saw the game in a tight 78-77 affair following Cansino’s jumper to pull the squad within just one. 

But it was the last time the Fighting Maroons ever came within distance as Quiambao’s late explosion and Nelle’s late-game triple pretty much sealed the victory. 

“Heading into this game, we know that UP’s gonna be the barometer of this season. So, we just try to remind everybody that it’s a test of how far we’ve come as a team. We had a chance the last time we played [UP] in the first round. Things din went our way. We just came here just try to be the better version of ourselves. UP is a good team. The challenge is for the players to step up together we can do great things. These guys are really competitors,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson. 

Cansino tallied eight points late in the fourth period to pace the Fighting Maroons with 20 points and five rebounds. 

Janjan Felicilda and Harold Alarcon, for their parts, contributed 13 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort. 

UP remained on top with an 8-2 record in the standings and is still in the hunt for the coveted twice-to-beat armor.

The scores:

DLSU (88) – Quiambao 22, Nelle 17, M. Phillips 15, Policarpio 11, Escandor 11, Nonoy 3, Abadam 3, Cortez 2, Austria 2, Manuel 2, B. Phillips 0, David 0, Macalalag 0, Nwankwo 0.

UP (79) – Cansino 20, Felicilda 13, Alarcon 10, Abadiano 9, Pablo 6, Briones 5, Torculas 4, Lopez 4, Alter 2, Belomonte 2, Torres 2, Fortea 2, Gagate 0.

Quarterscores: 22-14, 51-39, 66-59, 88-79