UP coach Goldwyn Monteverde threw an army of defenders on La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao in Game 1 of the UAAP men’s basketball Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday and it took a toll on the two-time MVP, who erupted for 18 points in the first half but scored only one point on a technical free throw in the second as the Fighting Maroons stormed to a 73-65 win.
Reyland Torres, Harold Alarcon, Francis Lopez, Aldous Torculas and Jacob Bayla took turns shadowing Quiambao. In the first half, Quiambao hit five-of-nine field goals, including two-of-five from three and went six-of-six from the line in 17:19 minutes. In the second half, he was zero-of-six from the floor with five attempts from beyond the arc and took only one free throw on a technical in 18:11 minutes. What reversed the tide was UP’s tight denial on Quiambao and trap when he had possession. Because of the denial, it took time for La Salle to get the ball in Quiambao’s hands and when he finally got it, either the shot clock was about to run out or the distance to the rim was too far for a good look.
The Archers were up by four, 41-37, at the half and in control of the tempo. But UP made key adjustments in defense to limit La Salle to four-of-15 attempts from the floor and force seven turnovers in the third quarter where the Archers shot only nine points. That turned the tables. La Salle recovered to trim the gap from 11 to four, 65-61, time down to 3:00 minutes and the margin was still four, 67-63, with 1:32 left but couldn’t sustain the momentum.
The matchup between Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips was a close fight. They both had 17 points but Phillips had more rebounds, 11-9, and more assists, five to three, with less minutes, 32:12 to 34:27. Lopez finished with 13 points, nine in the pivotal third quarter when UP seized control.
With Quiambao unable to disengage in the second half, the Archers struggled and lost composure. It’s what happens when the main man is barnacled. Panic sets in and unless the coaches find a way to untangle the mess, the slide will be difficult to stem.
In last year’s Finals, UP took Game 1 by 30 yet La Salle bounced back to win the next two encounters for the championship. UP isn’t about to let the crown slip away again. The Maroons are out to clinch in Game 2. But the Archers aren’t giving up. The spotlight is on Quiambao to reemerge or not.