De La Salle's Kevin Quiambao celebrates after the Green Archers defefated the UP Fighting Maroons in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball finals in Quezon City on December 6, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

The University of the Philippines and De La Salle University - Manila battle in game 3 of the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball finals in Quezon City on December 6, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

UAAP Season 86 Men's Basketball Finals Game 3

Camille Naredo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172554888873720231206-uaap-dlsu-up-MD-46.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="De La Salle&#x27;s Kevin Quiambao celebrates after the Green Archers defefated the UP Fighting Maroons in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 86 men&#x27;s basketball finals in Quezon City on December 6, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">De La Salle&#x27;s Kevin Quiambao celebrates after the Green Archers defeated the UP Fighting Maroons in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 86 men&#x27;s basketball finals in Quezon City on December 6, 2023. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- De La Salle University&#x27;s Topex Robinson is counting his blessings that he gets to coach Kevin Quiambao for at least one more year in the UAAP.</p><p>Soon after the Green Archers lifted the men&#x27;s basketball trophy in Season 86, there were already questions if Quiambao -- the season and Finals Most Valuable Player -- would be back to help them defend the crown. </p><p>He said in December that he intends to &quot;run it back&quot; with La Salle and gun for back-to-back championships, but there was still plenty of uncertainty as Quiambao reportedly received naturalization offers from the United Arab Emirates after representing the country through Strong Group in the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championships.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/13/23/kevin-quiambao-to-run-it-back-with-la-salle-in-season-87">READ: Kevin Quiambao aims for back-to-back UAAP titles with La Salle</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/1/31/quiambao-clears-air-on-knicks-uae-naturalization-offers-2225">READ: KQ clears air on Knicks’ Summer League, UAE naturalization offers</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/24/24/robinson-proud-worried-as-kq-gets-naturalization-offers">READ: Robinson proud, worried as Quiambao gets naturalization offers</a></div><p>&quot;There are so many things that we don&#x27;t have control of,&quot; said Robinson in an interview with ABS-CBN News on Wednesday. &quot;So sa amin, sasagarin ko habang nandito sa akin si KQ. Because you know, that&#x27;s just how it is.&quot;</p><p>Quiambao is &quot;happy to be back&quot; with the Green Archers and is now embracing a bigger responsibility with the team both on and off the court, says Robinson.</p><p>An all-around forward, Quiambao was the undisputed MVP in Season 86, with averages of 16.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while guiding La Salle to an 11-3 win-loss record and the second seed. He only got better from there, thanks to an offseason that saw him play with Gilas Pilipinas and Strong Group.</p><p>These experiences have raised Quiambao&#x27;s level, but Robinson has no doubt that his player will share what he has learned with his teammates.</p><p>&quot;The reason why KQ is a different breed is because he&#x27;s not only good individually, but he&#x27;s also a good team player,&quot; he said. &quot;I mean, he&#x27;s really a God&#x27;s gift to basketball.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m just so fortunate and blessed to really, you know, be sharing the court with him. You know, sharing the dugout with him,&quot; he added. &quot;Isa &#x27;yun sa mga bagay na ngayon, binibilang ko na, because you&#x27;ll never know how long you&#x27;re gonna have that kind of player.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Hopefully, mapasa niya yung ginagawa niya sa mga future Lasallians. That is what we&#x27;re having right now.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172554891403820240904-uaap-season-87-bball-presscon-HO-19.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="De La Salle University Green Archers coach Topex Robinson during the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Basketball Press Conference at Novotel Manila in Quezon City. Handout/UAAP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">De La Salle University Green Archers coach Topex Robinson during the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Basketball Press Conference at Novotel Manila in Quezon City. <em>Handout/UAAP</em></span></span></span>It&#x27;s a sentiment that Robinson has already expressed before, while La Salle was in the midst of its campaign in Season 86. With the Green Archers preparing to defend their crown against a host of challengers, his belief in Quiambao has only strengthened. </div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/13/23/topex-fortunate-to-coach-kq-hes-a-blessing-to-us">READ: Topex ‘fortunate’ to coach Quiambao --  ‘He’s a blessing to us’</a></div><p>The player has given his coach no reason to doubt his abilities after stellar showings in the 39th Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament -- where La Salle played against PBA teams -- and in the 2024 World University Basketball Series in Tokyo, where they battled foreign collegiate squads.</p><p>&quot;Ang dami niyang … na-inspire na people,&quot; Robinson said of Quiambao. &quot;Evident &#x27;yun sa amin during the preseason -- wherever we go, everybody loves KQ, and that&#x27;s what I&#x27;m proud of. KQ knows how to handle that certain [level], [kung] ano na narating niya.&quot; </p><p>&quot;I love the kid, I love the way he helps others also.&quot;</p><p>As for their prospects in Season 87, Robinson is optimistic after their superb preseason, even though he also warns that it will not be an easy road for his Green Archers. </p><p>&quot;Having a successful preseason will not guarantee a successful [season],&quot; he said, pointing out that they have seven new players to integrate in their team. &quot;It&#x27;s a different ball game for us this season.&quot;</p><p>La Salle opens its UAAP Season 87 campaign on Sunday, September 8, against the National University Bulldogs at the Araneta Coliseum.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: <span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-CAP4cZEPI?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>De La Salle University's Topex Robinson is counting his blessings that he gets to coach Kevin Quiambao for at least one more year in the UAAP.</p>

De La Salle University's Topex Robinson is counting his blessings that he gets to coach Kevin Quiambao for at least one more year in the UAAP.

For his coach, Kevin Quiambao is 'God's gift to basketball'

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For his coach, Kevin Quiambao is 'God's gift to basketball'

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 06, 2024 12:08 AM PHT

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