By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Kevin Quiambao just proved why he is the superstar of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers after pulling off a heroic performance against the National University (NU) Bulldogs on September 8, 2024, in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Trailing by seven points in the final 4:17 of the game, the reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) dropped nine markers in the most crucial stretch of the game to lift the Green Archers to a come-from-behind 78-75 victory to bag their first win in the prestigious collegiate league.
It was Earl Abadam who kicked off DLSU’s comeback run after nailing back-to-back deuces to keep the Green Archers within striking distance.
However, the Bulldogs had enough gas left in the tank and answered every DLSU basket courtesy of clutch hits from PJ Palacielo, Jolo Manansala, and Jake Figueroa.
With the game on the line and DLSU down by three, 71-68, Quiambao drilled a clutch step-back three-pointer to level the affair at 71-all.
NU retaliated with a daredevil drive to back up by a point, but Quiambao once again countered back with a foul-counted layup in the final 1:37 of the fourth period.
Quiambao’s biggest moment came when the game was knotted at 75-all with only 21 seconds remaining.
After collecting an offensive board, Quiambao pitched a pass to JC Macalalag who gave it up eventually to EJ Golena in the top of the key.
When the clock was milked down to 17 seconds, Quiambao received the ball and called the play, asking for a double ball screen from Macalalag and Mike Phillips.
As Quiambao navigated his options, he decided to take the Phillips screen and expose the mismatch against NU’s Steve Nash Enriquez.
That then paid off as Enriquez got shoved in the Phillips screen and had a wide-open look from the rainbow area. With three seconds left in the DLSU shot clock, Quiambao fired the open trey and officially sealed the deal for the Green Archers, giving them the 78-75 advantage.
The Bulldogs had one last chance to equalize the ball game but Reinhard Jumamoy’s long hail mary attempt went strong off the rim, leading to a 0-1 opening campaign for NU.
Quiambao was fantastic from the get-go and capped off his heroics with 22 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Phillips, DLSU’s senior veteran, backstopped Quiambao with an efficient double-double outing of 12 points and 11 boards.
The Green Archers will only have two days of rest before returning to the UAAP hardwood on September 11, 2024, against the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will aim to bounce back and enter the UAAP winning column on September 14, 2024, as they take on the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in the first game of the scheduled doubleheader.
