Kevin Quiambao registered another triple-double while Mark Nonoy broke out as De La Salle University clipped University of the East with a brilliant fourth quarter, 86-76, to remain in pursuit of a twice-to-beat edge in the coming UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Final Four at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Sunday.
Quiambao, the Season 85 Rookie of the Year, has recorded the rare feat for the second time this season after getting a triple-double on October 28 against National University. He tallied 17 points, 19 rebounds, and 12 assists to go with four steals and two blocks this time.
“Sobrang thankful and blessed na nakakuha ako ng personal achievement pero lagi ko ngang sinasabi na yung goal namin is to win the championship and to compete at the highest level,” said the 6-foot-8 sophomore of his performance.
Season 82 Rookie of the Year Nonoy, meanwhile, drilled seven threes to finish with a personal season-high of 25 points, including 12 in the fourth frame that allowed the Green Archers to turn a 64-63 tight lead to a 77-63 huge advantage with 5:13 left.
During that game-telling 13 unanswered points of La Salle, Nonoy had nine on three triples while Evan Nelle and Jonnel Policarpio got two points apiece.
“I just can’t commend more the guys that really stepped up in this game. Guys were just really having fun and just trying to really be disciplined in what we wanna achieve as a team,” said Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson.
Seven would be the closest the Red Warriors could get, 70-77, as Quiambao and Nonoy drained the daggers.
The Green Archers won their sixth straight game and improved to 9-3, just a game behind co-leaders University of the Philippines and NU at 10-2.
Raven Cortez added 11 points for the victors while Nelle also punched in 11 assists along with seven points.
La Salle will take on reeling Far Eastern University on Wednesday’s quadruple-header at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Red Warriors dropped to 4-8 and are on the brink of elimination from Final Four contention. A loss against fourth-running Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday will extend their Final Four drought to 14 years.
Noy Remogat paced UE with 22 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds but also committed eight turnovers.
Precious Momowei contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds while Abdul Sawat got 18 points as well for the losing team.
The Scores:
DLSU 86 – Nonoy 25, Quiambao 17, Cortez 11, Policarpio 9, Nelle 7, Austria 6, Escandor 6, Abadam 3, Nwankwo 2, David 0, M. Phillips 0, B. Phillips 0, Macalalag 0, Manuel 0.
UE 76 – Remogat 22, Momowei 21, Sawat 18, Lingolingo 6, Maglupay 4, Cruz-Dumont 3, Tulabut 2, Galang 0.
Quarterscores: 15-15, 49-38, 64-63, 86-76