As new responsibility comes, La Salle is ready to support Kevin Quiambao on and off the court amid their title retention quest in UAAP Season 87.
The DLSU Green Archers are ready to spread the responsibility when times come that reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao won’t be able to step up to the plate both on and off the court.
Having to deal with a lot outside of basketball over the past few days due to the birth of his child with his girlfriend, Quiambao understandably has to divide his attention to matters apart from being the star of La Salle.
After a tough grind-out win against the FEU Tamaraws on Wednesday, DLSU head coach Topex Robinson said that it was a team effort to pick up the pieces from their first loss of the season last September 22 both for Quiambao and the rest of the Green Archers.
[Related: UAAP: Topex Robinson says UE loss took pressure off La Salle, leading to rebound vs FEU]
“It was a really challenging opportunity for KQ because he has to juggle being a future dad to playing and representing DLSU and being one of our leaders together with Mike [Phillips],” said Robinson.
“And every time, we kind of sub him in and out, good thing Mike is always gonna be supporting us in every way they can. But again, it’s just a test of [Kevin’s] character. I mean, after that challenging time in our last game, he was able to pick himself up and the rest [of us]. I guess that just shows how much we really have to take care of each other.”
During the loss against UE, Quiambao missed two game-tying free throws with the game on the line in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter.
The loss was the first blemish on La Salle’s UAAP Season 87 record. It was also the first loss in the UAAP for the Green Archers since Game 1 of the Season 86 Finals last year against UP.
Though he bounced back with a near triple-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals against FEU, Quiambao may be missing in action for the Green Archers in the near future – as he will need to take care of his partner and their newborn.
As KQ takes on the new responsibility of being a father, Robinson said that La Salle will be ready for whatever comes – even if it means missing Quiambao during practices, and possibly even games.
With still a lot of capable players left in the roster, the UAAP champion coach said that they’ll be able to go through the challenge of retaining their title.
“Well, it’s one of the things that we’ve discussed prior to the season. We know that he’s gonna be in and out, sometimes he’s not gonna be in practice, sometimes he might even miss games; meron pa siyang commitment sa GIlas. So that’s part of what we prepared for.” said Robinson.
“That’s why we always say that KQ is just a part of us but he’s not the whole of us. We’re always gonna have guys that are gonna step up and guys that are just waiting for the opportunity in case we have KQ in and out, and I guess, we just try to support and protect each other and again, having the common goal is always gonna be important. Whoever the next guy is after KQ,” he added.
In the win over FEU, the next man up was Phillips – who was the top scorer with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks.
But with more tougher matchups to come this season, La Salle will do good if more players step up to the challenge.
La Salle is slated next for a clash with the UST Growling Tigers on Sunday, September 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.