By MARK REY MONTEJO
La Salle star Kevin Quiambao formally took his second straight MVP plum before an excited crowd in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Quiambao, 23, stood tallest among the 125-man list after garnering 81.357 Statistical Points (SPs) as he averaged 16.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1 block in 14 contests – a testament of the 6-foot-7 forward’s versatility on the floor.
And with his plum, Quiambao joined the exclusive club led by Philippine basketball legends and current stars in UE’s Allan Caidic (Seasons 47-48), Ateneo’s Jun Reyes (Seasons 50-51), UST’s Dennis Espino (Seasons 56-57), Ateneo’s Rich Alvarez (Seasons 63-64), FEU’s Arwind Santos (Seasons 67-68), NU’s Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (Seasons 74-75), and Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena (Seasons 77-78).
The pride of Muntinlupa also etched his name in the elite La Sallian cagers who won consecutive MVP plum in Jun Limpot (1987,1988), Mark Telan (1996,1997), Don Allado (1998,1999), and Ben Mbala (2016, 2017).
Aside from winning the highest individual trophy, Quiambao also made it in the Mythical Five alongside his teammate Mike Phillips, UP’s JD Cagulangan, UST’s Nic Cabanero and FEU’s Mo Konateh, who won the Best Rebounder award.
Veejay Pre, on the other hand, earned the Rookie of the Year and became the seventh Tamaraw in the past 35 years to snare the said accolade.
He joined the likes of Johnny Abarrientos (Season 52), Mark Victoria (Season 59), Leo Avenido (Season 62), Arwind Santos (Season 65), JR Cawaling (Season 70), and Terrence Romeo (Season 73).
