JUST how much is Kevin Quiambao worth to La Salle?
Quite frankly, a lot.
That much was in full display again for the Green Archers with the reigning and defending Season and Finals MVP securing them the top seed in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament with an impressive 77-66 triumph over rival University of the Philippines on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Quiambao triggered the Taft side's fourth quarter assault to put them ahead by 10 with four minutes to play before setting up Raven Gonzales for the dagger floater to make it 71-62 with 2:13 remaining.
His 15-point, 5-rebound, and 3-assist night guided La Salle to its ninth straight win, improving to a 12-1 record.
Mike Phillips, as always, was the constant energizer bunny for the Green Archers with 14 points and 10 boards off the bench; Joshua David added 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals; and JC Macalalag stepped up anew scoring nine.
“It’s about everybody, it’s about the team, and the guys were just ready to compete," said coach Topex Robinson.
"As I’ve said, UP is one of the best teams in the college and we just tried our best to be at par and compete against them. Credit to these guys for competing and not giving up, especially in the second half.”
La Salle gets better of UP anew
It continued the green-and-white’s mastery against their maroon-and-green counterparts, annexing their win run to four dating back to Game 2 of last season’s finals.
JD Cagulangan fronted the fight for the new-look - literally - Maroons with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals, but that kept them at No. 2 with their 9-3 record. Nonetheless, they locked up the other twice-to-beat advantage by virtue of University of Santo Tomas' victory vs. University of the East.
READ: UP debuts black jerseys following QMB's mourning of lolo
UP weathered the absence of Quentin Millora-Brown, who was in the US attending the internment of his grandfather, as it held its own on the boards and even won the rebounding battle, 47 to 38.
The Scores:
LA SALLE 77 – Quiambao 15, M. Phillips 14, David 12, Macalalag 9, Gonzales 7, Agunanne 6, Gollena 4, Dungo 4, Ramiro 2, Austria 2, Marasigan 2, Rubico 0.
UP 66 – Cagulangan 22, Bayla 10, Torculas 9, Torres 8, Lopez 6, Stevens 3, Alarcon 2, Fortea 2, Alter 2, Briones 2, Ududo 0, Abadiano 0, Felicilda 0, Belmonte 0.
Quarters: 12-14, 40-43, 57-51, 77-66.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
