KEVIN Quiambao took one for La Salle as he owned up for their 75-71 defeat to University of the East on Sunday, the first loss for the defending champions this UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
“Yung pag-lead by example ko, pasalungat. So I have to be better and learn more pa,” he said.
READ: BOMBA! UE pulls off shocker against defending champion La Salle
Despite still starring for the Green Archers with 17 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, the reigning and defending Season and Finals MVP uncharacteristically missed two crucial free throws which could have tied the game at 73-all with 15.8 seconds remaining.
Those were just two of his six misses from 10 free throw attempts.
But it’s not just him, as the whole La Salle side was just off from the line, where it went 19-of-35.
Just on to the next for La Salle
Post-game, coach Topex Robinson no longer needed to have any pep talk with the Green Archers as the players themselves knew full well what went wrong.
“I think yung approach namin sa game is kailangan naming respetuhin yung kalaban namin kahit anong mangyari. This game, kumbaga may potential na nakita niyo naman na sobrang nag-relax kami,” said Quiambao.
“Bad start, tinamaan pa ng off game lahat, tapos sa depensa, 'di kami maka-catch up. So moving forward, marami kaming learnings, especially sa akin na ang dami kong free throws na na-miss."
He continued: "Sinasabi ni coach Topex na it was a wake up call para sa amin. Vinisualize na namin yung last season. 'Di na namin hahayaang mangyari ulit ito.”
Indeed, Quiambao is wasting no time rectifying his mistakes.
Don't believe us? Don't be surprised to see him inside the gym just a while after leaving the Mall of Asia Arena, as he promises to be better next game.
“Buong game, sobrang malas talaga. I think one of the things na naisip ko is i-engage ko yung crowd para ma-hype ako, pero sablay talaga eh. Wala talaga. Sablay is sablay,” he stated.
“Papraktisin ko agad yung free throws at pupunta ako ng gym after this.”
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