Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao of the DLSU Green Archers and Mythical Five member Kent Pastrana of the UST Growling Tigresses pick up right where they left off in the opening week of UAAP Season 87.
It was a fantastic week for reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao and Mythical Five member Kent Pastrana as they led their respective teams to unbeaten starts in Season 87, being named UAAP Players of the Week by the Collegiate Press Corps on Tuesday.
As deliberated by men and women regularly covering the UAAP, Quiambao and Pastrana’s contributions to the De La Salle Green Archers and the UST Growling Tigresses, respectively, earned them the citation for Week 1 covering September 7 to September 15.
Quiambao’s week was highlighted by the game winner against the NU Bulldogs. He also flourished with consistency in La Salle’s first three games, as he averaged 18.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and six assists.
[ALSO READ: ‘Takeover mode’: Kevin Quiambao takes the reins for La Salle in cardiac win vs. NU to start UAAP Season 87]
After their escape act over the Bulldogs in the season opener, the Green Archers also rode the 23-year-old’s offense against the Adamson Soaring Falcons and most recently, the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
[ALSO READ: Tab Baldwin considers Kevin Quiambao among UAAP elite as La Salle handily beats Ateneo]
He was the unanimous choice for the citation backed by Discovery Suites and World Balance over other nominees UP’s JD Cagulangan, UST’s Nic Cabañero, and Adamson’s Monty Montebon.
Despite his tremendous start to the season, Quiambao stressed the need for further improvement down the line.
“So far, lahat sa amin, marami pang pagkukulang, especially me, marami pa akong pagkukulang dahil bago nga lang ako sa leadership role. Pero kailangan lang namin na gawin namin 'yung best namin and control yung mako-control namin,” he said.
Over in women’s basketball, Pastrana helped the UST Growling Tigresses survive tough challenges in their first three games as defending champions.
After leading the Growling Tigresses to their first UAAP title in almost two decades last year, the 24-year-old has continued to show up for Coach Haydee Ong.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Haydee Ong keeps UST Growling Tigresses' confidence under wraps after 2-0 start to title defense]
In games against UE, Ateneo, and Adamson, Pastrana averaged 16.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
While she helped UST blow out UE and Ateneo in the first two games, Pastrana needed to dig deeper to fend off the Lady Falcons last weekend.
Pastrana edged out fellow nominees such as reigning women’s MVP Kacey dela Rosa of Ateneo, UP’s Louna Ozar and NU’s Camille Clarin.
Even as she has been leaned on in scoring, Pastrana also vowed to develop her leadership skills to make sure that the crown stays in España.
“Oo, meron talagang nagbago [sa mindset.] Unang una yung maturity talaga kasi 'yun nga sinasabi sa akin palagi ni coach, 'ikaw 'yung isa sa leader sa loob ng court, kailangan mag-set ka ng tone so kung ano iyong ipinapakita mo sa loob,'” she said.
“Lahat susunod talaga lalo na 'yung mga bata kasi 'yun nga magse-set ka ng good example sa loob ng court as a veteran.”
La Salle will try to continue its winning ways in the men's tournament as it faces the UE Red Warriors on Sunday, September 22 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Meanwhile, UST aims to make it four in a row in women's play also against NU in last season’s Finals rematch on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.