La Salle Green Archers superstar Kevin Quiambao. Photo from UAAP Media. 

MANILA (UPDATED) — De La Salle University remained at the top of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament after it escaped University of Santo Tomas in overtime.

The Green Archers avoided a 20-point meltdown against the Growling Tigers en route to a 94-87 win during their Round 2 clash, Wednesday evening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Kevin Quiambao fired this career-best 29 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal, while Mike Phillips followed with a 16-point, 13-rebound game.

"Steam naman namin, next man up lang. Lahat naman kami may role dito sa team. Coming from a pangit na laro [against University of the East], trinabaho ko lang ulit," said Quiambao, who bounced back from a silent 10-point, six-rebound game with four turnovers in their 77-68 win over the Red Warriors last Saturday.

"Naging healthy lang ulit ako, bumalik na kung ano talaga yung groove ko, and rinabaho lang namin yung everyday kung ano pang pwedeng i-work on sa team namin," he added.

La Salle Green Archers star Mike Phillips. Photo from UAAP Media.

KQ indeed showed up when it mattered the most for La Salle. 

To open the overtime period, Quiambao and Phillips hit consecutive deuces for an 84-80 Archers lead, while EJ Gollena extended their cushion to six after going 3-of-3 from the foul line with over three minutes left in the game.

Kyle Paranada was then fouled but missed both of his free throw attempts in hopes of chopping the Archers' lead, and Quiambao and Phillips took advantage of this in their next possessions by scoring four straight points to yet again regain a 10-point lead, 91-81, and eventually win the game. 

Before this, the Taft-based squad, who already opened the game with a 14-0 start en route to a 27-to-14 opening quarter performance, shifted to higher gears in the second and led by as huge as 20, 40-20, midway through that frame.

UST, however, regained some footing and ended the first half with a 9-to-2 spurt to cut the lead to 13 at halftime, and they even got as close as seven, 76-69, after a pull-up trey by Fourth Padrigao 3:54 mark of the fourth off a turnover by Lian Ramiro.  

The Tigers then got as close as one, 80-79, after a triple by Paranada and a fastbreak by Nic Cabañero with 52.1 ticks left, while Padrigao's split at the foul line with only 24.1 left in regulation eventually sent the game to OT. 

Despite the win, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson maintained that there is still a long way to go for his troops, especially since they committed 26 turnovers that allowed the Tigers to come back and force OT.

"Just like what I said earlier, we were not surprised about UST or how other teams that we're going to face really play their best when they're playing against us," said Coach Topex. 

"And sabi nga namin, it's part of this challenge. You know, this season will be the hardest for us. What's important here is how we really take care of each other through those challenges. But you have to give these guys a chance to grow."

Fortunately for the champion mentor, the Green Archers hold themselves accountable for the things that they still need to learn and adjust from. 

"Sila na mismo naga-admit ng kung anong mali nila. I just let them acknowledge their mistakes, and let them learn from them. That extra five minutes really gave us a breathing room to really get our act together," he pointed out of his team who improved to 8-1 after this game.

Meanwhile, UST, who fell to 4-5 and have now lost two straight games, leaned on Cabanero’s 23 markers, Padrigao’s 15, and Mo Tounkara who posted 14 markers and eight boards before fouling out. 

The Scores:

La Salle 94 – Quiambao 29, M. Phillips 16, Gonzales 11, Gollena 8, Agunanne 7, Austria 6, Macalalag 6, Dungo 6, David 3, Marasigan 2, Ramiro 0, Abadam 0, Konov 0, Rubico 0.

UST 87 – Cabanero 23, Padrigao 15, Tounkara 14, Pangilinan 10, Paranada 8, Manaytay 7, Llemit 3, Estacio 3, Crisostomo 2, Robinson 2, Acido 0, Mahmood 0, Lane 0, Danting 0.

Quarterscores: 27-14, 42-29, 65-56, 80-80, 94-87.