De La Salle University star Kevin Quiambao is tuning out the outside noises of him likely bagging the Most Valuable Player award with his consistent stellar performance in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
Chants of “MVP!” echoed inside the Mall of Asia Arena when the sophomore took over in the homestretch of the Green Archers’ huge win over league-leading University of the Philippines last Sunday.
It was an overwhelming feeling listening to the sea of green that was part of the 13,469-strong crowd cheering for him in unison.
But Quiambao didn’t want this to take his focus away from the bigger goal of winning the title.
After all, La Salle is still a couple of steps away from securing a return ticket to the Final Four after missing the cut last season.
“It’s overwhelming but then again, we still have a long way to go this season. We just have to focus on what is in front of us,” Quiambao, last season’s Rookie of the Year, said after the Green Archers completed an 88-79 payback over their first-round tormentor.
“I just did my job and doubled my effort. Good thing, we got a good result.”
The prized forward, who led the statistical race in the first round, dropped a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds he laced with three steals and two assists to power La Salle to its fourth straight win for a 7-3 win-loss record at solo third spot.
Quiambao’s numbers came at the heels of a triple-double performance in the Green Archers’ victory over standings co-leader National University last week.
“Just like what I always say, these stats came from the system of coach Topex (Robinson). I just doubled my effort and stuck to the system that worked,” Quiambao said.
“I don’t force myself to get these stats. I just trust our system, my teammates. You can see (in the stats) that almost everyone made contributions. We’re really thankful because we really want to win in this game.”
Quiambao shrugged off a bloodied left temple after getting whacked in the head in the second quarter to come out with another memorable showing to lift La Salle.
Down, 74-75, with under five minutes left after UP made a 16-8 run to start the payoff period, Quiambao took matters into his own hands unleashing 11 points in La Salle’s closing 14-4 counterpunch.
