IN the very first game of the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup, De La Salle University was watching a horror show.
Not only were the Green Archers at the wrong end of a rout by UAAP Season 86 finals foe University of the Philippines, top gun Kevin Quiambao also lay crumpled on the floor in the last two minutes of the game.
The reigning UAAP MVP hit his head on the hardcourt as he was trying to catch an inbound. He then took time to get back up and didn't return, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds in La Salle's 77-89 loss.
Not long after, Quiambao posted on social media that he was "out indefinitely."
All-out, definitely
The 6-foot-8 versatile big, however, didn't miss any games and just three weeks later, seemed better than ever, going on a personal 13-0 run in the last two and a half minutes to shoot the Green Archers to a 77-74 come from behind win against University of the East, Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
La Salle looked dead in the water in the final frame, as head coach Topex Robinson was ejected after two consecutive technical fouls due to continuous complaining. Rookie Nico Mulingtapang then put the Red Warriors up, 74-64, with 2:37 remaining, and they were well on their way to their biggest win of the preseason.
Quiambao, however, had other plans.
"It's a character thing. He didn't want to lose. Siya nagsasabi sa'min na, 'Kaya pa yan. Kaya pa yan,'" assistant coach Caloy Garcia said.
"Kevin won games for us last [UAAP] season. He'll continue to win games for us now in his last year in college."
Hitting two threes, three free throws, and two inside baskets, and playing a key role in back-to-back defensive stops in the last 20 seconds, the 23 year old looked like a man among boys when it mattered most for the Green Archers.
That was most evident in his game-winning three, as he found a favorable matchup against Mulingtapang before confidently rising and then hammering down the final nail in UE's coffin.
"Struggling kami sa laro e, pero sinabi ko sa sarili ko at sa teammates ko, wag na wag tayong susuko," he said after they improved to 3-1.
Gaining steam
Clearly, Quiambao is ok after his scary fall in the tournament opener. This, all while he continues to see action in several non-La Salle games, most often in his hometown Muntinlupa.
Of course, many of these matches were opportunities for him and lifelong friend - and now-teammate Kean Baclaan - to play together once more. Along with that, they were chances for him to keep working to make sure he was in tip-top shape once La Salle officially opens its title defense in UAAP Season 87 September.
"Nagligang labas lang naman ako before ngayong preseason kasi I'm not sure kung babalik ako sa team. Ayoko namang matengga. Kelangan ma-execute pa rin yung tinatrabaho ko sa buhat," he said.
Make no mistake, Quiambao is now all-in in the Green Archers' preseason preparations, even as he and Baclaan still make appearances in games in Bayanan and neighboring barangays. All of these are part of his process to prepare to try and give the Green Archers back-to-back championships.
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