Kevin Quiambao erupts for a new career-high 29 points as La Salle survives a gutsy challenge by UST in overtime to push its winning streak to five games in UAAP Season 87
MANILA, Philippines – After a quiet performance in La Salle’s previous outing, Kevin Quiambao just reminded everyone why he’s the reigning UAAP MVP.
Going up against a gutsy UST Growling Tigers squad, Quiambao erupted for a new career-high in scoring to tow the Green Archers to a nail-biting 94-87 overtime win in the Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, October 16.
Quiambao converted 10 of his 17 field goals, including an efficient 4-of-6 clip from beyond the arc, to finish with 29 points, together with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in over 32 minutes.
The 6-foot-6 do-it-all big man eclipsed his previous career-high of 24 points, which he set in the Green Archers’ title-clinching Game 3 win over the UP Fighting Maroons in the Season 86 finals.
After coming up with just 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting in La Salle’s 77-68 win against the UE Red Warriors last Saturday, October 12, Quiambao went to work early and scored 13 of the Green Archers’ fiery 14-0 start to the game.
La Salle even led by as many as 20 points midway through the second quarter, 40-20, before UST came alive in the second half and staged a massive fourth-quarter comeback.
With La Salle still ahead by double figures, 76-66, off a basket by Mike Phillips at the 4:22 mark of the final frame, Forthsky Padrigao hit a booming triple to kickstart a huge 8-1 UST run, cutting the Green Archers’ lead to just 3 points, 77-74, with still 1:45 to play in regulation.
Quiambao then hit his own cold-blooded trey to put La Salle back up by two possessions, 80-74, before UST’s Kyle Paranada and Nic Cabañero responded with a quick 5-0 run.
UAAP | 4Q:
Five quick points from Paranada and Cabañero bring UST to within 1, 80-79, 52.1 on the clock! #UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/EVSVJe6fKq
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) October 16, 2024
An unsportsmanlike foul by Mike Phillips to Padrigao put the latter on the foul line, but the former Ateneo star point guard only managed to convert on one of his two free throws to tie the game at 80-all with 24.1 seconds remaining.
Padrigao then had an opportunity to win it all for UST in the final possession, but his potential game-winning trey failed to hit the mark as buzzer expired.
UAAP | END OF REG:
Padrigao misses the potential-game-winning trey and we are headed to overtime tied at 80-all!#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/lcNkN0VyYZ
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) October 16, 2024
In overtime, Quiambao started things off with a wide-open layup, followed by two charities by Phillips as the Green Archers never looked back the rest of the way, pushing their lead anew to double figures, 91-81, with just 1:53 left to play.
Phillips backstopped Quiambao with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Raven Gonzales contributed 11 markers.
Cabañero led UST in the heartbreaking loss with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Padrigao chipped in 15 points.
UST foreign student-athlete Mo Tounkara — who got ejected at the 3:38 mark of the fourth quarter — and Miguel Pangilinan also breached double-digit scoring for the Growling Tigers with 14 and 10 markers, respectively.
UAAP | WATCH:
UST’s Mo Tounkara visibly frustrated as he gets ejected for taunting (4 personals + 1 technical) with over 3 minutes to go. La Salle still leads, 77-69. #UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/XOzWBOV8iQ
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) October 16, 2024
Following its fifth consecutive win, La Salle reclaimed the top spot with an 8-1 record, while UST fell to a 4-5 slate.
The Scores
La Salle 94 – Quiambao 29, M. Phillips 16, Gonzales 11, Gollena 8, Agunanne 7, Austria 6, Macalalag 6, Dungo 6, David 3, Marasigan 2, Ramiro 0, Abadam 0, Konov 0, Rubico 0.
UST 87 – Cabañero 23, Padrigao 15, Tounkara 14, Pangilinan 10, Paranada 8, Manaytay 7, Llemit 3, Estacio 3, Crisostomo 2, Robinson 2, Acido 0, Mahmood 0, Lane 0, Danting 0.
Quarters: 27-14, 42-29, 65-56, 80-80 (reg.), 94-87 (OT).
– Rappler.com
