MANILA, Philippines – La Salle is not playing the blame game despite presumptive two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao tallying just a point in the second half after a hot start in Game 1 of the men’s basketball finals.
As a sensational Quiambao erupted for 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting on top of 9 rebounds in the first half, La Salle remained on the driver’s seat with a 41-37 halftime advantage.
However, UP threw everything to contain Quiambao, smothering the 6-foot-7 swingman to just 1 point in the latter half, missing all of his six attempts, and turning the ball over three more times as the Maroons escaped with a 73-65 win.
“The good thing about the team in the dugout was nobody was blaming nobody,” said La Salle coach Topex Robinson.
“We’ve gone this far because of how we really became a united front. And we will not let any negativity get in our way,” he added.
“You know, we will play this championship the way we should play as a big family. It’s not always going to be flowers and rainbows. You’re going to go through those rough patches.”
Much like last year, when La Salle won the final two games to take the Season 86 championship, the Green Archers have a chance to force a deciding Game 3 on Wednesday, December 11.
They will face a UP side raring to erase the trend of the past three finals appearances, as the Fighting Maroons lost all previous Game 2 matchups after winning Game 1.
In three finals series, the Maroons won Game 3 once — through a JD Cagulangan stepback three to sink Ateneo in the Season 84 finale in 2022 and capture their first championship in 36 years.
“[As] long as we always do it right. You know, we play right. We honor this game that we love. And it’s always been good to us,” said Robinson.
“And we will not be defined by just losing a game. You know, whether it’s losing these next two games or not, we don’t really care, but what’s important is we stick with what we live for,” he continued.
“Take care of each other and protect each other. That’s just the most important thing.” – Rappler.com