LA SALLE greats from years and decades past shared how they are left in awe of UAAP Season 86's prospective runaway MVP Kevin Quiambao.
This, on the night when former La Salle men's basketball title-winning teams received their championship rings to mark the silver anniversary of the first of its four-peat run (1998 to 2001), and two days before Game One of the Archers' title series with the UP Maroons.
READ: UAAP Finals offers a lot of firsts for UP, La Salle, Topex and Lopez
See what some of La Salle's iconic champions had to say about Quiambao's MVP-caliber form and season thus far as he looks to become the first local UAAP MVP since Kiefer Ravena in 2014 and 2015.
DON ALLADO: 'He is very worthy of having and getting the MVP award'
- Allado is a two-time UAAP champion, two-time MVP, and two-time Finals MVP with La Salle — all in 1998 and 1999.
- He is the last local La Salle player to win UAAP MVP.
"Kevin (Quiambao) is a great talent, he has high IQ, and he's very physically fit. I think and I know from what I've seen, siyempre I scout him, he is very worthy of having and getting the MVP award.
"But more importantly, he is worthy and deserving of leading this team to the championship which is much more and way more important than personal accolades," Allado said.
"Well, I do hope that he gets it (MVP). Since I'm the last local MVP that's won it back-to-back, and even in the Finals na MVP back-to-back, it's very fitting na mapunta kay Kevin Quiambao ang MVP. Sana makuha din niya ang Finals MVP. Hindi po kasi 'yan madali, mahirap po 'yan kunin, but I think he can do it," he added.
RENREN RITUALO: 'He made (getting triple-doubles) look so easy'
- Ritualo was part of every champion La Salle team in its four-peat run from 1998 to 2001.
- He is a former UAAP Rookie of the Year (1997) like Quiambao (2022) and is also a Finals MVP (2001).
- His retired #14 jersey hangs in the rafters of the university's Enrique Razon Sports Center and is a De La Salle Sports Hall of Fame inductee (2021).
"How can I describe him? First time ko makakita ng player na naka-triple-double sa UAAP. Even in the PBA, it’s really hard to do that feat lalo na dito sa amateur, sa college.
"It’s only 40 minutes and he made it look so easy, mga triple-doubles niya and ginawa niya pa twice. It’s really impressive," said Ritualo.
FRANCIS ZAMORA: 'Siya ang pag-asa talaga ng La Salle na manalo'
- San Juan City Mayor Zamora was a two-time UAAP champion in 1998 and 1999.
- He was also team captain of both La Salle's 1998 and 1999 champion teams.
"Para sa akin si Kevin ay napakagaling. He can play all positions, he can dribble, he can rebound, he can give assists, he can score, he can shoot the three — basically, he can do everything. Para sa akin, siya ang pag-asa talaga ng La Salle na manalo.
"Of course, it's a team effort but you can see how much he has improved from last season. Ang laki ng ginaling ni Kevin at kitang-kita mo 'yung leadership niya sa court. We're hoping that he wins the MVP," Zamora said.
"But more than the MVP, we're hoping that he, along everyone else, can lead the team to winning the championship this year. Sana talaga 'yung composure sa end game ma-maintain nila pati 'yung disiplina para mag-champion."
ALDIN AYO: 'This season, he definitely stepped up'
- Ayo was the head coach of La Salle's most recent champion team as of posting in 2016.
- He currently calls the shots for the Converge FiberXers in the PBA.
"Well he’s on another level. I’ve seen him play when he was in high school and even in the early part of his collegiate career. But this season, he definitely stepped up.
"'Yung laro niya, ito na yung pinaka-kondisyon siya in terms of the physical aspect but mayroon siyang (attribute) na wala ang iba — he is very versatile. He can score, he can pass, he can do it all, pero masusubukan (sa Finals) kung gaano siya ka-mature and kung gaano niya ka-gustong manalo," Ayo said.
JERON TENG: 'He’s the MVP for a reason'
- Teng is a two-time UAAP champion (2013 and 2016) and won Finals MVP in both of his title-winning years.
- He was also a former Rookie of the Year (2012) winner like Quiambao (2023) and Ritualo (1997) with four Mythical Five selections in his UAAP career (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016).
"He’s the MVP for a reason and I’m expecting him and all the other vets to lead our team to win another championship," said Teng.
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