De La Salle University superstar Kevin Quiambao against the University of the Philippines (UP) in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.MANILA — De La Salle University was almost minutes away from seeing their demise in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals.

Harold Alarcon’s jumper in the fourth quarter’s 8:32 mark of Game 2 pushed the University of the Philippines’ lead to nine, 64-55, and this made half of the 17,112 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena erupt in anticipation of the Fighting Maroons crowning glory.

But Kevin Quiambao, eager to avoid a sweep, answered with a deuce to cut their deficit to seven as he looked to bring some life into the Green Archers’ offense.

Minutes later, he hit another basket, this time a trey at the 6:27 mark, and suddenly, the defending champions were back in the game. They were only down by four, 67-63.

UP, however, wouldn’t just let their moment be spoiled. All thanks to JD Cagulangan, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Francis Lopez, State U raised their lead to seven anew, 73-66, with only 4:46 left.

But KQ refused to end his season -- and perhaps his UAAP career -- just like that.

Mike Phillips hit a basket to get to within five, and this eventually paved the way for Quiambao to make a statement why he is a back-to-back league MVP.

He drained a three-pointer at the 2:03 mark to only trail by two, 73-71, and he then went on to sink the go-ahead triple 34 seconds later with a three-pointer for a 74-73 lead.

Both teams missed free throws and shots in the following plays in what turned out to be a scrappy finish, but after the final buzzer, the Taft-based cagers were still alive — La Salle and UP both are going into Game 3.

READ: La Salle stays alive with emotional comeback, sets up another do-or-die vs. UP

“It’s all about kung sino yung mas may gusto sa game na ‘to,” said Quiambao, who finished with 22 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, while also delivering nine rebounds, two assists, and a steal. “It was all about mental toughness.”

Mental toughness, according to KQ, was indeed what he needed following the series opener last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

“After that Game 1 loss, ‘di talaga ako nakatulog ng two days,” said the Muntinlupa native, who, after scoring an impressive 18 markers in the first half of Sunday’s game, only finished with 19 points in their 72-71 loss.

“So ayun, sobrang emotional ko kasi pinag puyatan ko ‘to at alam ko kung ano yung pagkakamali ko nung Game 1,” he added.

Quiambao went quiet and begged off from post-game interviews last Sunday, avoiding the outside noise that was even made louder by the reports that he is headed for the Korean Basketball League after this series.

However, in the game wherein he was needed most, Quiambao reintroduced himself in the best way that he could on Wednesday, towing La Salle to victory like the two-time MVP that he is.

“Win or lose, it’s on me. We had our backs against the wall, and kung ano man yung naging result nitong Game 2, ako yung ibe-blame win or lose,” he emphasized.

Quiambao knows that it is now all back to squad one, much like their encounter with the same squad last year. But regardless of who sings their Alma Mater first on December 15 after the final buzzer, the versatile forward assures that he will leave it all out on the floor no matter what.

“I take ownership of it, and I take responsibility sa kung ano man ang mangyayari sa team namin this series,” he ended.

Tip-off on Sunday at the Big Dome is at 5:30 p.m.

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