New king reigns — Quiambao set to be crowned as UAAP MVP

De La Salle University star Kevin Quiambao is set to be crowned Most Valuable Player after topping the statistical race with stellar performance throughout the elimination round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men's basketball tournament.

The sophomore forward left the rest of the field eating his dust after tallying 97.0 total statistical points, about 12 points clear of his closest pursuer, to become the first local player to bag the highest individual award in eight years.

Quiambao, who recorded an amazing two triple-doubles in the eliminations, was at the center of the Green Archers' impressive run back to the finals after six years of absence.

His impact on both ends of the court and his leadership brought La Salle within two wins of ending a seven-year title drought despite the team's shaky start.

The Green Archers, on a smoking nine-game winning streak, are battling University of the Philippines in the best-of-three championship series opener as of press time at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Quiambao, the Season 85 Rookie of the Year, is scheduled to receive the shiny hardware along with other individual award winners in a simple ceremony before Game 2 on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 22-year-old versatile swingman averaged 16.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per game in 14 outings.

Quiambao became the first local talent to win MVP after Ateneo de Manila University's Kiefer Ravena bagged the honor in 2014 and 2015.

Foreign student-athletes claimed the recognition in the previous six seasons including La Salle's Ben Mbala in 2016 and 2017 — the last Green Archer to get the recognition.

Quiambao is also the fourth Filipino La Salle player to pocket the award after three-time winner Jun Limpot (1989, 1990, 1992) and back-to-back MVPs Mark Telan (1996, 1997) and Don Carlos Allado (1998, 1999).

Allado, who is currently an assistant coach for University of the East, said the 22-year-old big man from Muntinlupa is more than deserving for the MVP award for his exploits.

He, however, is now challenging Quiambao to lead La Salle to the ultimate prize: The UAAP title.

"Kevin is a great talent. He has high basketball IQ. He's very physically fit and from what I have seen, he is worthy of getting the MVP award," Allado said during La Salle's ring ceremony last Tuesday.

"But more importantly, he's deserving of leading this team to the championship, which is way more important than personal accolades."

Allado, who went on to have a fruitful career in the Philippine Basketball Association, is also hoping Quiambao will emulate his feat and become the first Green Archer in 24 years to win both the season and Finals MVP trophies.

"It's very fitting Kevin will get the MVP award and I hope he also gets the Finals MVP as well," Allado, also a San Juan City councilor, said.

The Red Warriors' guard Noy Remogat joined Quiambao in the Mythical 5 as his runner-up with 85.93 SPs along with La Salle's Evan Nelle (77.53 SPs), UP center Malick Diouf (74.76 SPs) and Far Eastern University's L-Jay Gonzales (66.85 SPs).

Fighting Maroons freshman Francis Lopez earned Rookie of the Year after finishing seventh in the SPs race with 60.35 total.

The UP forward got the award after top rookie Precious Momowei of UE was disqualified from winning any individual award following a one-game suspension due to two unsportsmanlike infractions. Momowei collected 66.76 total SPs at the sixth spot.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University's Kacey Dela Rosa took the women's division MVP honors after collecting 83.85 SPs.

She is joined in the Mythical 5 by FEU's Josee Kaputu (82.0 SPs), University of Santo Tomas' Jane Pastrana (77.71 SPs), UP's Favour Onoh (72.71 SPs) and Ateneo's Junize Calago (70.71 SPs).