MIGHT as well call it the Kevin Quiambao show.
The reigning and defending Season and Finals MVP hogged the spotlight in the rivalry match, resetting his career-best in scoring in La Salle’s eliminations sweep of fierce foe Ateneo, 80-65, on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Quiambao’s 33-point night boosted the Green Archers’ twice-to-beat chances in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, as they remained alone atop the standings with a 10-1 win-loss record.
He shot 5-of-11 from distance, grabbed 13 rebounds, dished out two assists, and got one steal in the Taft side’s seventh straight conquest to stay in fine form in the second round.
La Salle owns Ateneo in Season 87
At the same time, La Salle blanked its archrival Blue Eagles in the two teams' season series - unless they meet again in the Final Four, of course.
“It was a good win for us, pero malayo pa kami sa gusto naming mapuntahan,” said Quiambao before turning to his coach Topex Robinson. “Sabi ni coach magbwakaw ka na, so sumusunod lang ako kay coach.”
Quiambao’s dunk at the 3:29 mark sparked the Green Archers' finishing kick before Michael Phillips and Joshua David sealed the deal down the stretch.
David shot 3-of-7 from threes for his nine points and five boards, EJ Gollena also scored nine, and Phillips grabbed 13 rebounds to go with four points and two assists, as the green-and-white won the season series for the first time since 2013.
“We knew it’s gonna be a hardfought game, so we just kept our composure. We knew they were going to make a run, so we just stuck with what we prepared for playing against Ateneo,” said Robinson.
Jared Bahay posted his own career-high of 22 points, to go with four assists and two rebounds to lead Ateneo in still battling back from 18 points down to just nine, 73-64, with 3:17 to go.
Chris Koon had nine points and eight boards, and Kristian Porter and Shawn Tuano scored eight each in the game which spelled the end of the Blue Eagles’ two-game win run for a 3-7 standing.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 80 – Quiambao 33, David 9, Gollena 9, Austria 7, Marasigan 7, Macalalag 5, M. Phillips 4, Ramiro 3, Gonzales 2, Dungo 1, Agunanne 0.
ATENEO 65 – Bahay 22, Koon 9, Porter 8, Tuano 8, Lazaro 6, Espinosa 6, Quitevis 5, Bongo 1, Balogun 0, Espina 0, Gamber 0, Ong 0.
Quarters: 17-11, 42-33, 63-48, 80-65.
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