Back-to-back MVP? Kevin Quiambao poised to be UAAP king again
MANILA, Philippines – La Salle superstar Kevin Quiambao again stands way above his peers.
Leading the statistical race in runaway fashion, Quiambao looks poised to win his second straight Most Valuable Player award after powering the Green Archers to the No. 1 spot after the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
“Kevin is really a blessing to have for coaches. You have a coach’s dream and he’s one of those guys that I’m so fortunate to coach,” said La Salle mentor Topex Robinson.
Quiambao amassed a league-best 87.571 statistical points, over 10 points ahead of second-ranked JD Cagulangan of the UP Fighting Maroons (77.0 SPs).
Delivering a phenomenal string of performances — from clutch takeovers to all-around outings — Quiambao topped the league in scoring with an average of 16.43 points.
The reigning MVP also landed inside the top five of virtually every statistical category, posting a third-best 5.43 assists, and fifth-best averages of 8.86 in rebounds and 1.29 in steals.
Another win will make the 6-foot-5 Quiambao the league’s third back-to-back MVP in the last decade since Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena (2014-2015) and La Salle’s Ben Mbala (2016-2017).
In 2023, Quiambao — virtually tipped as the country’s best collegiate player — also made history as the UAAP’s first local player to bag the MVP crown since Ravena.
“One good thing about Kevin is he makes everybody around him look good,” said Robinson. “That just shows how much he really cares for this team, more than obviously getting that individual award or winning a championship.”
True enough, two other La Salle players ranked in the top 10 of the MVP race midway into the eliminations.
Michael Phillips, the undisputed energy guy of the Green Archers, wound up third with 72.143 SPs.
Phillips led the league in steals at 1.71 and also ranked third in rebounds, averaging 11.57 boards per game.
Nicknamed “Motor Mike,” Phillips also normed 10 points, 2.43 assists (10th), and 1.0 block (7th).
Joshua David, meanwhile, proved to be a revelation in La Salle’s title defense this season as he landed eighth with 55.857 SPs.
The 6-foot guard posted a fifth-best 4.57 assists on top of 5.0 points and 6.14 rebounds.
Foreign student-athletes rounded out the top five in the MVP race with UE’s Precious Momowei at fourth (68.286 SPs), followed by FEU’s Mohamed Konateh (63.571 SPs).
Momowei averaged a double-double of 11.14 points and a second-best 13.29 boards, while rebound leader Konateh hauled down a league-best 16.14 and finished second in blocks at 2.43.
Rounding out the top 10 were UST players Forth Padrigao (62.429 SPs), who posted a league-best average of 7.14 assists; Mo Tounkara (60.0 SPs) who ranked second in scoring with 14.0 points; Nic Cabañero (55.143 SPs); and UP’s 6-foot-10 Fil-Am standout Quentin Millora-Brown (54.714 SPs). – Rappler.com