The reluctant superstar

It didn’t come as a surprise when La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao announced that he would return to play another UAAP season for the Green Archers after leading the Taft school to the men’s basketball championship early this month.

Quiambao, 22, could’ve renounced the remaining three years of his varsity eligibility and turned pro with several enticing offers on the table to play overseas. Japan was the leading candidate to land the MVP as his mother lives in Tokyo with two brothers. There were offers from Korea to jump with monthly salaries that approximate what PBA stars bankroll. But Quiambao isn’t in a hurry to leave La Salle where he intends to finish with a degree.

La Salle’s schoolyear is split into tri-semesters and students could wind up their studies in three years if they manage their loads efficiently. Quiambao’s diploma is within reach after a year and the opportunity to earn a La Salle degree is something he holds in high priority. While pro basketball will eventually figure prominently in his life, Quiambao realizes playing isn’t a forever career and an education is a cushion to lean on for the future.

What makes Quiambao special is his attitude. No doubt, he’s La Salle’s superstar, the UAAP Best Rookie last season and the MVP and Finals MVP this year. But he’s not the type to bask in his accolades. Quiambao knows nobody can win a championship alone. Michael Jordan needed Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman to win titles with the Chicago Bulls. Steph Curry couldn’t have collected his Golden State rings without Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. LeBron James had help from Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade at Miami, Kyrie Irving at Cleveland and Anthony Davis with the Lakers to win his championships.

After every game, win or lose, Quiambao makes it a point to slap fives with his teammates in the locker-room, acknowledging that chemistry is the key to teamwork. His stats indicate that he puts importance on assists and rebounds as much as points. Those no-look passes wouldn’t lead to assists unless they’re converted.

In the waning moments of Game 3 in the UAAP finals this season, Quiambao chased down UP’s Gerry Abadiano and blocked his layup from behind. It would’ve been an easy basket for Abadiano otherwise. That turned out to be the most crucial defensive play of the contest and it preserved the Archers’ lead down the stretch.

When the final buzzer sounded, Quiambao wept unabashedly as he was overcome with emotion. It was a tough journey to the top with La Salle dropping three games in the first round and losing to UP by 30 in Game 1 of the finals. He embraced his teammates but reserved the tightest hug for coach Topex Robinson who showed him the way to blossom. Robinson knew when to start Quiambao and when not to, when to put him on the court and when to sit him down. Quiambao placed his trust in Robinson and did what he was told. He set an example for the rest of the team to seize the moment, play their roles unselfishly and believe in Robinson’s system.

Quiambao thanked the entire coaching staff for the support from Robinson to Caloy Garcia to Gian Nazario to Mon Jose to Oliver Bunyi to JB Sison to strength and conditioning coaches Migs Aytona and Gelo Vito. Quiambao never took short cuts in executing what Aytona and Vito prescribed in their powering programs and actually, did a lot more than what was asked.

In Game 3, Quiambao had 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and one turnover in 34:35 minutes. La Salle played virtually with an all-Filipino lineup as Bright Nwankwo logged only three seconds, checking in to distract inbounder JD Cagulangan with 5.4 seconds to go and leaving with 2.2 ticks left. During the victory celebration on campus, Quiambao joked that the Archers were done with the UAAP finals and it was the students’ turn to deal with their own finals, delivering a subtle message of empowerment.

Quiambao’s decision to stay at La Salle is a lesson for outstanding college players to appreciate the importance of education, value the option of staying in school and not just consider offers from the highest bidders.