The De La Salle Green Archers’ Kevin Quiambao. Photo from UAAP Media

MANILA — De La Salle University absorbed its first defeat in UAAP Season 87 after the University of the East stunned them in a close encounter on Sunday.

Entering the game with a three-game win streak, the Green Archers faced an early 17-point lead after the end of the first quarter, and the Red Warriors had an answer forevery comeback attempt that the Taft-based team threw at them until the final buzzer.

"UE really wanted it more. We learned from these experiences, and it is gonna make us great," head coach Topex Robinson told a few reporters right before he exited the Mall of Asia Arena.

Aside from the hot hands of the Red Warriors that were led by the duo of John Abate and Wello Lingolingo who had a combined 9-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc, a factor in La Salle’s loss was their abysmal 19-of-35 shooting from the 15-foot-line.

Green Archers superstar Kevin Quiambao himself only went 4-of-10 from the free throw area — with the reigning league MVP even missing two attempts that would have tied the game — and he offered no excuses for the performance that he showed. 

READ: Abate, Lingolingo wax hot as UE blemishes La Salle’s perfect record

"Buong game sobrang malas talaga. I think one of the things na naisip ko is i-engage ko yung crowd para mahype ako, pero sablay talaga eh, wala talaga. Sablay is sablay. Pa-praktisin ko agad, punta ako ng gym after this," he said.

Quiambaofinished with 13 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and a steal but only shot 6-of-17 from the field, and he said that his showing as well as this loss will be a wake-up call for the defending champions

"Dadalhin ko yung learnings ko from this game. Sinabi ni coach Topex na it was a wakeup call para sa amin," said Quiambao, while also sharing how they must not overlook their opponents regardless of their standing. 

"I think yung approach naming sa game is kailangan naming respetuhin yung kalaban naming kahit anong mangyari, kahit sinong kalaban namin. This game, kumbaga may potential na nakita niyo naman na sobrang nag relax kami. Bad start, tinamaan pa ng off game lahat, tapos sa depensa di kami maka-catch up. Hats off sa UE dahil sobrang prepared kami sa game na ito and mas gusto nilang manalo," he insisted.

Robinson, for his part, is taking responsibility for their subpar performance.

The De La Salle Green Archers’ Topex Robinson. Photo from UAAP Media

"Blaming each other is the worst thing that we can do. Life goes on for us. We have to focus on FEU on Wednesday, so we cannot cry over spilled milk anymore," he said. 

"Every time we're gonna lose games, it's gonna be on me. Before I blame my guys, I have to make sure that I watch the game. We missed 16 free throws, and that's one of the stories of this game. When we win games, you give credit to the players, and when we lose games, the coach will take the responsibilities, and I'm gonna stay true to my word."

"Never will I throw anybody under the bus. At the end of the day, we're a family," he added. 

As for the misses of Quiambao, Robinson said that those would not change anything for the Archers. KQ will still be La Salle's main man moving forward.

"Obviously, you don't wanna lose games, but we want to learn from those. It's a wake-up call for everybody. Ito na yung sinasabi ko na KQ will win games for us, and KQ will lose games for us, but it's not gonna change the dynamics — he's still gonna be our guy."

"Wherever he goes, we're gonna follow," added Coach Topex. 

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