Newly-crowned UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao driven by blowout Game 1 loss

Newly-crowned UAAP Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao is looking to cap a historic sophomore year with a championship title when De La Salle tackles University of the Philippines in the winner-take-all Game 3 of their best-of-three finals clash on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The 6-foot-5 forward may be nowhere near his usual impressive numbers that propelled him as the league’s best individual performer, but Quiambao remained a reliable presence with nine points and 13 rebounds and a plus/minus +23 in the Green Archers’ 80-62 Game 2 win that tied the series. 

In Game 1, Quiambao was held to only 11 points and a plus/minus of -22 as La Salle succumbed to a lopsided 97-67 defeat, which was its biggest losing margin all through the season and something that he personally used as a driving force to help dragged UP into an extended series. 

“I think ‘yung gigil factor medyo meron pa rin. As much as gusto ko ng kalimutan ‘yung nangyari sa amin nung Game 1, medyo pumapasok pa rin sa isip ko. So, sinabi ko lang sa sarili ko na kailangan ko lang trabahuhin every possession and then find a way kung paano ako magiging effective sa game,” said Quiambao. 

Following the ceremony that saw Quiambao receive the MVP and Mythical Five recognition including a sweep of the special awards, the 22-year-old chose to set aside his ego and come off the bench 3:27 into the first quarter with La Salle trailing UP, 12-2. 

“We wanted to make sure that we have at least a back up with our starters. Whatever happens, we have somebody who’s gonna come off the bench and provide for us. And KQ was ready for the challenge because sabi niya nga kung ano ‘yung gusto namin na coaching staff, susunod lang din siya,” La Salle head coach Topex Robinson explained. 

Quiambao, for his part, was happy to formally be named the season’s best but added that the team’s sake always thumps any individual accolades. 

“For me, ‘yung numbers naman hindi naman problema sa akin kahit hindi ko makuha ‘yun. Basta nananalo kami, masaya na talaga ako. Pero ‘yung Game 3, talagang all out ako dahil wala nang bukas ‘yun. Kumbaga, win or go home na ‘yun. Paghahandaan ko talaga,” said Quiambao. 

The Season 85 Rookie of the Year is the first local MVP in eight years since former Ateneo Blue Eagles Kiefer Ravena won the award in 2014 and 2015, and also the Green Archers’ top player since Ben Mbala’s mayhem season in 2016.  

Quiambao also became the first local awardee from La Salle to clinch the honor since Don Allado’s back-to-back MVP plum in 1998 and 1999. 

 “Sobrang saya nakuha ko at last ‘yung MVP, official na. Kumbaga nasama ako sa list ng mga naging MVP coming from La Salle. Pero credit talaga sa coaches and sa teammates ko dahil ‘yung numbers ko galing naman sa kanila. I think lahat naman kami rito may factor bakit ko nakuha ‘yung numbers na ‘yun pero personally, sobrang saya and hindi ko talaga ma-explain ‘yung feeling. Pero sa Game 3 makikita niyo ulit ‘yung [magandang] nilaro namin,” said Quiambao.