MANILA, Philippines – A clash with rival Ateneo brought the best out of La Salle ace Kevin Quiambao.
The reigning UAAP MVP poured a career-high 33 points in steering the Green Archers to a rousing 80-65 romp of the Blue Eagles in the Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, October 26.
Quiambao shot 10-of-22 from the field, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, and added 13 rebounds and 2 assists as the defending champions completed their season sweep of Ateneo and cruised to their seventh straight win.
In a class of his own, Quiambao scattered 18 points in the first half then continued wreaking havoc in the last two quarters to eclipse his previous career-high of 29 points he set in a 94-87 overtime win over UST on October 16.
With Quiambao showing the way, La Salle enjoyed a lead as big as 18 points, 72-54, before the Blue Eagles threatened a comeback in the fourth quarter.
Ateneo got within striking distance when it uncorked a 10-1 run capped by a Sean Quitevis three-pointer with 3:30 minutes remaining that cut its deficit to 64-73.
But Quiambao restored order for the Green Archers, hammering down a two-handed slam off a Mike Phillips dime that ignited a win-sealing 7-1 blitz.
“Every time you play Ateneo, it’s always gonna be something to always value,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
“We know it’s gonna be a hard-fought game. That team is really a solid team with a lot of winning tradition, so we just kept our composure.”
Phillips produced 4 points and 13 rebounds as La Salle, the first team to secure a Final Four berth, improved to 10-1 and swept the Blue Eagles for the first time since Season 76 in 2013.
“It’s a good win for us pero malayo pa kami sa gusto naming mapuntahan (but we’re still far from where we want to be),” said Quiambao.
Ateneo rookie Jared Bahay also notched a career-high 22 points with 4 assists in the loss that snapped the Blue Eagles’ two-game winning streak and dropped the team to seventh place with a 3-7 record.
The Scores
La Salle 80 – Quiambao 33, David 9, Gollena 9, Austria 7, Marasigan 7, Macalalag 5, M. Phillips 4, Ramiro 3, Gonzales 2, Dungo 1, Agunanne 0.
Ateneo 65 – Bahay 22, Koon 9, Porter 8, Tuano 8, Espinosa 6, Lazaro 6, Quitevis 5, Bongo 1, Balogun 0, Ong 0, Gamber 0, Espina 0.
Quarters: 17-11, 42-33, 63-48, 80-65.
– Rappler.com