HAIL to De La Salle.
La Salle's seven-year wait is over as the Green Archers brought the UAAP men’s basketball championship back to Taft with a wild 73-69 win over University of the Philippines in the winner-take-all Game Three on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kevin Quiambao atoned for two endgame turnovers with the four title-clinching free throws as the Green Archers won their 10th UAAP championship on the silver anniversary of the first of the school's historic four-peat from 1998 to 2001 (Seasons 61 to 64).
La Salle brings UAAP men's hoops crown back to Taft
Moreover, La Salle gave first-year coach Topex Robinson his first major college title after near-misses at Lyceum and San Sebastians before 25,192 fans — the most for any basketball game played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"I'm so grateful and honored to be a part of this amazing group of guys. Also, we have to credit the coaches who came before me and built this team.
"They've done a tremendous job and I'm just so grateful for these guys that were with me throughout the season. Can't thank enough also the coaches," said Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson, who joined an elite list of La Salle coaches who won the UAAP crown in their first year in-charge — Franz Pumaren, Juno Sauler, and Aldin Ayo.
"I guess putting your name in that list is really an honor for me. This is my first championship as a college head coach after so many tries, and again. You just don't want to give up. You know, when you doubt yourself and you don't have the courage to move forward," Robinson added.
A second title in three seasons looked ever-so close for the Maroons as they took a 67-63 lead with roughly six minutes left in the final frame through Malick Diouf's clutch putback shot.
From there, a series of last-gasp lapses turned the tables in La Salle's favor as Quiambao and the graduating Evan Nelle powered a 7-2 run — iced by one final KQ free-throw — to win the ultimate prize they've longed for after nearly a decade-long title drought.
Long and winding as the road may have been, La Salle is finally back on top.
The scores:
DLSU (73) – Quiambao 24, Nelle 12, Policarpio 8, Nonoy 8, M. Phillips 5, Macalalag 5, Escandor 4, Austria 3, David 3, Cortez 1, Manuel 0, Nwankwo 0, B. Phillips 0, Abadam 0.
UP (69) – Diouf 21, Lopez 12, Alarcon 10, Cagulangan 8, Felicilda 5, Cansino 5, Torculas 4, Abadiano 2, Torres 2, Fortea 0, Pablo 0.
Quarterscores: 22-21, 39-43, 55-58, 73-69.
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