The crown is back in Taft. Seven years later, De La Salle is UAAP champion once again. 

Newly-crowned Season 86 Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao exploded with a team-high 24 points to lead La Salle past University of the Philippines, 73-69, in the winner-take-all Game 3 of their best-of-three Finals series on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Facing each other in the finale for the first time in league history, the Green Archers kept the Fighting Maroons a runner-up for the second consecutive season. 

Unlike in their first two encounters that ended in blowout results, the decider was well-fought, with the game going back and forth and neither of the teams giving an inch of space for the entirety of the match.

After suffering the most lopsided defeat of 97-67 in Game 1 and trailing almost throughout the match, La Salle was patient and resilient — and now a champion before the record-breaking crowd of 25,192 that came in droves on a weekday. 

In the closing period, La Salle overcame a 57-63 deficit with a telling 13-4 surge capped by Quiambao’s personal seven-point barrage with 4:17 left in the game. 

Graduating Evan Nelle wasn’t about to go out without the title in his hands — delivering an all-around display of 12 points, six rebounds and seven assists. 

Last year’s MVP and graduating big man Malick Diouf led all scorers in the first half with 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting to pace UP and eventually finish with 21 points. 

Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez and Harold Alarcon added 10 points apiece on the losing end.