CHICAGO - For one night in this UAAP Season 87 men's basketball drama, an anomaly that is unlikely to happen again, Kevin Quiambao went off script.
The leading MVP candidate, who was averaging 18.5 points a game entering Tuesday's tiff, assumed the role of a bricklayer, clunking 15 of 17 field goals including 0-for-8 from 3.
KQ finished with a season-low eight points.
READ How did KQ take being benched in La Salle's comeback win vs FEU?
Somehow, La Salle still managed to weave a happy ending by edging the hard-charging FEU Tamaraws, 58-53, to inch a game closer to sealing the No. 1 seed heading into the Final Four.
With their conquering hero mired in an uncharacteristic slump, the rest of La Salle's indomitable green army came to the rescue.
UNSUNG HEROES.
JC Macalalag and David Dungo combined for 17 points while six other players pooled together 16. And with Mike Phillips taking over the heavy lifting - 17 points and 15 boards - it was enough to etch the Green Archers' 11th win in 12 outings.
While praising his entire team's collective effort, coach Topex Robinson asserted the value of Philips as the team's lynchpin.
"Mike is our leader on the defensive end. His energy is contagious," Robinson told me while he was about to enjoy a well-deserved post-game dinner with his coaches at Ikinari Steak in MOA Square.
KQ's unexpected output did little to ruin Robinson's appetite.
"I will live and die with KQ taking those shots," he said. "Those are the shots he usually takes and those are our plays," the former PBA coach added.
STANDING BY HIS STAR.
Curious, I asked Robinson what he thought was the reason for Quiambao's rare off- night.
"The challenge of fatherhood. We've had this conversation before that he will have those moments during the course of this season when he will be tired," Robinson, himself a relentless workaholic, explained.
How tired? Well, here's a glimpse of a normal day in KQ's life.
He starts his day working out at a Mandaluyong gym where the Phoenix Fuel Masters of the PBA trains. After that he goes to school before heading to team practice.
"He is a coach's dream, a player who strives for perfection," Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin told me after witnessing up close and personal KQ's work ethic.
On top of all the basketball-related activities, Quiambao also goes on diaper duty on most nights at home with his newborn son.
He is a UAAP MVP, a doting dad, and looks a lot like a winner in life.
Beating him and La Salle twice in the semis and twice in a three-game Finals is going to be extremely difficult.
What do you think?
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