Kevin Quiambao’s Heroics Propel DLSU To A Series-Equalizing Win Over UP

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Ladies and gentlemen, you just witnessed one of the most clutch performances in the history of Philippine Collegiate basketball.

In front of the loud 17,112 fans in attendance, back-to-back Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kevin Quiambao showed what it means to have the heart of a champion and led the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers to a come-from-behind 76-75 victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball finals on December 11, 2024, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Down by seven points with only 2:44 remaining in the ball game, Quiambao made the three biggest plays in the final crucial stretch that steered DLSU to a series-tying victory and forced a win-or-go-home Game 3 decider.

Veteran big man Mike Philipps kicked off DLSU’s comeback rally after hitting a wild hook shot that pulled them to within five points, 73-68.

After Philipps’ much-needed deuce, Quiambao put the whole Green Archers’ team on his back after draining a clutch three-pointer, 73-71.

DLSU completed a defensive stop after UP called timeout and CJ Austria immediately located Quiambao who was curling at the top of the key.

Locked in and decisive with his move, Quiambao shocked the whole UP crowd when he pulled the three-point trigger against the outstretched arms of Quentin Millora-Brown.

The sequence looked like a great contest from Millora-Brown, but the result went the other way as Quiambao officially put DLSU back in the driver’s seat when he cashed in the cold-blooded trey.

Millora-Brown recovered on the other end and put some sigh of relief on the UP side when he answered back with a spin-around hook shot for another lead change, 74-75.

Just when UP thought Quiambao was going to shoot another three-pointer, the reigning MVP saw a back-screen set for Phillips and wisely dished the assist that gave DLSU the lead back, 76-75.

The final minute of the game became a high-tension drama highlighted by missed free throws, turnovers, and sloppy executions but in the end, the Green Archers still emerged victorious when Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano missed UP’s potential game-winning basket.

“I guess we made the necessary stops in the endgame and just gave ourselves the opportunity to really connect from the outside. I don’t know what happened or what transpired, but we’re so grateful that we get to see another day and play another championship game,” said DLSU head coach Topex Robinson after his squad’s gutsy win.

Quiambao capped off his masterclass with a game-high 22-point performance built from an efficient 7/14 shooting alongside nine rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

Phillips, who was quiet during their Game 1 loss, bounced back and backstopped Quiambao with a double-double outing of 18 markers, 12 boards, and two steals.

On the other hand, the Fighting Maroons were paced by the trio of JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez, and Abadiano who all tallied 16 markers each.

Both prestigious schools will duke it out for the winner-take-all Game 3 on December 14, 2024, to be held at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.