Kevin Quiambao will play for DLSU against NU tomorrow before joining the Gilas training bubble for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. UAAP photo
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BACK-TO-BACK title-seeking La Salle will finish on top of the UAAP men’s basketball elimination round for the first time since the 2016 season.
But for reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao, the road for a second straight championship for the Green Archers is a long way to go.
“Job’s finished? I dont think so,” Quiambao wrote on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday afternoon.
La Salle secured the No. 1 ranking in the Final Four after pulling off a 77-66 win over University of the Philippines in the return match Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons have already assured of twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four prior to the game. UP was assured of a top-two finished after third-running University of the East lost to University of Santo Tomas, 67-76, last Saturday.
Even though it was a no bearing game, La Salle coach Topex Robinson treated it as a championship match.
For the Green Archers, who are now at 12-1, wenever they play the Fighting Maroons, it’s going to be important.
“It’s about everybody. It’s about the team. Guys were just ready to compete again, what we always say as one of the best teams in college. We tried our best to be at par and compete against them.
Credit to these guys for really competing and not giving up in the second half,” said Robinson.
Quiambao finished with 15 points and five rebounds while Mike Phillips had a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards.
La Salle will wrap up its elimination round assignments against already-eliminated National University tomorrow at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena and there will be no “load management” as it braces for a much tougher battle to reach the league’s biggest stage.
Robinson said since the Green Archers “strive for greatness,” they will approach their remaining last game the same way as always. He hinted that starters won’t be rested against the Bulldogs, but opportunities for other players to play is there, especially there’s a need for the team’s vital cogs to remain healthy in the Final Four.
Quiambao, Robinson added, will enter the Gilas Pilipinas training bubble after the NU game tomorrow afternoon. The 23-year-old forward, has received a call-up to play for the Philippines in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on November 21 and 24 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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