UAAP: Hard work pays off for Kevin Quiambao, La Salle Green Archers

Kevin Quiambao —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

On the court, Kevin Quiambao is a tough defensive assignment. He can score down low or from the perimeter and—when double-teams set up camp around him—is able to hit the open man.

In fact, Quiambao celebrates as animatedly when he makes a basket as when he makes the right pass that results in a teammate scoring.

“Those gestures I make are meant to boost my teammates and the crowd that came to the venue to watch us play,” Quiambao said. “Mark (Nonoy) told me that their confidence rises when they see that I’m happy for them—which I really am.”

Off the court, it turns out Quiambao is as difficult to defend. Just ask La Salle coach Topex Robinson, who has been getting his staff to “guard” the Green Archers star from overworking himself during practices.

“The work that he puts in, sometimes we really have to force him to not practice,” said Robinson. “[W]e really have to guard him during practice time because next thing you know he’s on the bike doing his runs. Next thing you know he’s gonna do mobility.”

The hard work has been paying off for La Salle. In an 86-76 victory over University of the East last Sunday, one which kept the Archers on the heels of the top two teams in the chase for Final Four protection in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament, Quiambao tallied his second triple-double in Season 86.

No player has ever done that in the final Four era.

“Coach unleashed my potential and I’m so grateful to all of them, my teammates and coaches, for their support,” said Quiambao in Filipino after tallying 17 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists while also adding four steals and two blocks for good measure as La Salle won for the sixth straight game. INQ