Quiambao fuels La Salle run

Achieving a triple-double is a rare feat in the highly competitive University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

But De La Salle University forward Kevin Quiambao made it look easy against one of the top title contenders in National University.

The sophomore forward tallied the first triple-double in five years to highlight the Green Archers' fruitful start of the second round of Season 86 men's basketball tournament.

Quiambao, last year's Rookie of the Year, stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 11 rebounds, a league-record 14 assists and four steals in a crucial 88-78 win over the Bulldogs last Saturday witnessed by a packed crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.

His gem of a performance came at the heels of another explosive outing in La Salle's 100-69 thrashing of luckless University of Santo Tomas.

Quiambao's numbers were enough to get the unanimous vote to bag the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Men's Player of the Week award for the period of 22-29 October.

The 6-foot-8 versatile forward started the week by dropping 22 points, 12 boards, six assists and five steals in a blowout over the Tigers. Then came his display of his all-around skills as La Salle moved to solo third spot with a 6-3 win-loss record.

The Green Archers' coaching staff were hardly surprised by the Most Valuable Player frontrunner's numbers, saying it was a result of trust in the new system of mentor Topex Robinson.

"The trust that he has with his teammates and the trust that his teammates have for him, cannot be measured. We see him during practice working extra and we're not surprised that he will bring that number during the game," assistant coach Gian Nazario told the press.

"The credit really goes to him because of the work that he puts in."

Quiambao averaged a triple-double in the twin victories, carding eye-popping numbers of 19.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4.5 steals per contest to become the unanimous choice by print and online scribes.

He nosed out teammate Jonnel Policarpio, Far Eastern University's LJ Gonzales, and University of the Philippines' Gerry Abadiano for the weekly honors presented by San Miguel Corporation and backed by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.

Meanwhile, Tantoy Ferrer emerged as the biggest factor in the streaking run of the Tigresses in women's basketball.

Ferrer, who just recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament tear that sidelined her for Season 85, completed the decisive three-point play with over two minutes left to give UST enough cushion to nip first round tormentor UP, 74-72.

She put up 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block.

The Haydee Ong-mentored squad also scored a blowout over the Lady Archers, 93-67, with Ferrer posting 10 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a steal.

"I know my team needs me. Coach has tasked me to lead the team and it's great to be back," Ferrer said.

With averages of 14.5 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals, Ferrer beat out teammate and last week's winner of the recognition Kent Pastrana, NU's Tin Cayabyab and Ateneo's Kacey dela Rosa.

"The stats that I bring are all because of the trust given to me by my coaches and teammates," she added.