Top seed La Salle has no plans of slowing down

La Salle’s Mike Phillips, middle, and Kevin Quiambao, left, during a second-round game against UP in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — La Salle coach Topex Robinson urged the Green Archers to continue “striving for greatness” despite securing the top seed ahead of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four.

La Salle asserted its mastery over rival University of the Philippines, 77-66, for its ninth straight win for a 12-1 record on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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With a no-bearing game left against also-ran National University on Wednesday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, Robinson vows to finish strong before the league heads into a two-week Fiba break.

READ: UAAP: La Salle clinches top seed, beats UP again

 “We always strive for greatness and, you know, we honor the basketball, we honor the game, it’s been good to us short-handling these guys is unfair to them. So, we always respect and honor the game and it’s been good to us,” Robinson said. “We’re always going to come out playing for our school, playing for the alumni that always watch our game and it’s unfair to them if we’re not going to play our best. It’s always going to be bringing out our best, you know, for our alma mater.”

Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao was once again a thorn in the side of UP with 15 points and five rebounds. But completing an elimination round sweep of the Fighting Maroons won’t satisfy the defending champions until they successfully capture their second consecutive UAAP crown.

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“Job’s not finished. Madami pang laro and yung ultimate goal naman namin is to win the championship,” said Quiambao.

The Gilas Pilipinas star said the No. 1 seed was a result of the team’s hard work and consistency.

“Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga teammates ko na yung opportunity na yun na dumating satin na magnumber one seed, hindi yan tsamba. Pinagtrabahuhan namin yan simula after nung championship namin, back to work kaagad kami. Yung months ng preparation namin, yung mga hard work nila sobrang saya makita na nagppay off na. Grateful lang kami palagi,” Quiambao said.

READ: UAAP: La Salle survives, deals big blow to FEU’s Final Four bid

Quiambao came off his worst shooting game of the season with eight points on 2-of-17 shooting to go with 13 rebounds in a close win over FEU on Wednesday.

But he made sure to redeem himself against UP by following his coaches’ game plan, especially on the defensive end. 

“Hindi ako pwede magmukmok dun sa kung ano yung performance ko last game and then, nandiyan yung teammates ko, yung management, yung coaching staff na lagi akong sinasabihan na tuloy mo lang. Isa ka sa leaders dito,” said Quiambao. “Yung mga kind words nila talagang nabubuhayan ako.”

“For our part, ginagawa lang namin kung ano yung utos ng coaches, kung ano yung game plan namin, nagstick lang kami dun. Coming into the second half, nagadjust kami na kailangan namin i-neutralize yung mga key players nila. Hindi naman namin lagi magagawa na mai-stop namin sila pero ginawa din namin yung best namin on the hardcourt,” Quiambao said.