Rival coach Tab Baldwin left in awe by Kevin Quiambao as the reigning UAAP MVP came up with a career 33-point performance in the latest Ateneo-La Salle clash.
Count Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin among the believers in La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao, as he saw the league MVP uncork a career-high 33-point performance in the Blue Eagles’ clash against the defending champions in round 2 of UAAP Season 87 Saturday, October 26.
Having seen the best talents not only in the UAAP but in Philippine basketball in general, Baldwin was left impressed by Quiambao’s prowess — not only in scoring but in everything that he did in the game.
“KQ played a hell of a game. There’s no other way to sum that up,” said Baldwin after the 80-65 loss to the Green Archers.
“He was good in many respects of the game. He was a prolific scorer, he passed the ball, he made good decisions, played good defense at times, and he led his team. You could see that he was inspired for the game and he played an outstanding performance,” he added.
More admirable for Baldwin was Quiambao’s continued leadership and inspired basketball, even as La Salle already has a Final Four spot in the bag.
In all 40 minutes, Quiambao didn’t let up for Topex Robinson’s team, playing a heavy load of 36 minutes in the ball game. From start to finish, it was all business.
[RELATED: Kevin Quiambao resets career-high to 33 points as streaking La Salle thumps archrival Ateneo]
“You can see that it mattered a lot for him and he led a really championship basketball team. And I know they think that way, they believe that that’s where they belong, and I don’t see anything to doubt that,” remarked Baldwin.
“They’re just a very well put together basketball team who are playing really good basketball, inspirational basketball. They’re playing very attractive basketball from a coaching standpoint and they were just clearly better than us tonight.”
But for the reigning MVP, there wasn’t really anything special going on against the Blue Eagles. Rather, KQ just continued to stick to La Salle’s system and the game just came to him.
Of course, it would be a no-brainer to center your game plan on a player like Quiambao.
“I think yung personal achievement na kusa na lang darating yun kapag nag-stick ka sa game plan. So mahalaga nakuha namin 'yung panalo,” said Quiambao, who kept his focus on the team win.
“After this game, kailangan namin maging humble. Lalo ako dahil umayon sa 'kin lahat ngayong game,” he added.
With three more games left in the elimination round, and with the twice-to-beat semis bonus still up for grabs, the 23-year-old vows to keep a growth mindset.
“Pero ayun nga, tulad nga sinasabi ni coach, madami pa kaming kailangan baguhin, trabahuhin. We need to be better pa, lalo na ako as a leader. Five turnovers na medyo crucial sa team. So as a leader, take ko lang yan as challenge, opportunity na mag-grow pa,” Quiambao said.
La Salle is headed for a lengthy layoff but return to action next month on November 6, when the Green Archers face the FEU Tamaraws at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. At 10-1, they’ll need the victory to assure themselves of at least a playoff for the twice-to-beat advantage.