De La Salle University superstar Kevin Quiambao after their Game 3 loss against the University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. Photo by Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News.MANILA — Kevin Quiambao could only watch as the University of the Philippines celebrated their return to basketball glory in the UAAP.

After the final buzzer sounded and the alma mater hymns were sung, the De La Salle University superstar witnessed Finals MVP JD Cagulangan, one-and-done hero Quentin Millora-Brown, and the rest of the Fighting Maroons rejoice after completing their redemption tour against the Green Archers.

READ: UP reigns over La Salle for UAAP championship glory

This mirrored the sequences that Quiambao saw just less than an hour before State U soaked up their triumph at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.

Stuck on the sidelines after La Salle mentor Topex Robinson rested him with only five minutes and change left, Quiambao saw how his teammates struggled to make shots in efforts to close in on the three-point, 61-58 advantage of UP in the payoff period.

Quiambao re-entered the game with under two minutes left — maybe a little later than when they wanted KQ to return to the floor — but there was still time to put his superhero cape on for the Lasallian community for one final time.

Unfortunately for the Green and White, Francis Lopez drained a booming triple, and the rest was history -- the Fighting Maroons were kings anew.

READ: Kevin Quiambao takes all the blame after La Salle falls short of title repeat

It was not Quiambao who went 0-of-6 from the field, and 0-of-2 from the foul line when they attempted to complete a comeback from down 14, but just like a leader would do, the Bayanan, Muntinlupa native took all the responsibility for his teammates.

“Win or lose, blame is on me,” stressed Quiambao just before making his exit at the Big Dome. “Ako may kasalanan ng lahat ng yun. I take ownership sa lahat ng ginawa ko.”

He even refused to point fingers at Robinson for the extended rest that might have just been the biggest reason for their demise.

“Tiwala naman ako kay Coach Topex ever since day one,” emphasized Quiambao. “Pero wala namang problema sa akin. Kinapos lang talaga ako.”

This was the same humility and accountability that he displayed earlier in the year when he received criticism, mostly online, for appearing in ligang labas games while they were in the middle of their title defense in Season 87.

“Lahat ng galaw ko pinapaalam ko sa management at kay Coach Topex. May basbas naman nila yun,” then said Quiambao, who got flak after an abysmal showing against Far Eastern University last November 6, where he only put up eight points on 2-of-17 shooting.

“Basta ingatan ko lang yung sarili ko. Kumbaga sabi nila: 'Kung anong gusto mong gawin sa buhay mo, gawin mo lang. Basta yung team nakasalalay sa lahat ng gagawin mo,'” he added.

Quiambao did not have to defend himself as he was not breaking any league rules.

The 6-foot-6, do-it-all forward already has the resume to back himself up — one that included a pair of juniors championships, a Rookie of the Year plum, Season and Finals MVPs, and international stints with Gilas Pilipinas and Strong Group Athletics.

However, Kevin always made sure that no one would question his love for his teammates and their program.

“He always plays for the name in the front, and that’s something that an MVP like him isn’t required to do,” said Mike Phillips of the two-time league MVP. “But he still does it, he has that commitment to make La Salle his baby.”

Circling back to his accomplishments, Quiambao made history for his school in 2023 by becoming the first Lasallian to receive the league’s top individual plum since Ben Mbala in 2016 and 2017.

He also was the first local Green Archer to hoist the same award since Don Allado in 1998 and 1999, and was also the first local UAAP MVP since Ateneo de Manila University’s Kiefer Ravena in 2014 and 2015.

The biggest and most valuable gift that he brought was the men’s basketball championship in Season 86 -- the Green Archers’ first title since 2016 -- and this was a testament to his commitment to DLSU.

“His love for La Salle is really unmatched. From an inside perspective, he’s the first one in the gym and the last one out. I’m not only talking about basketball and working out, but also during team events and film viewing, all that stuff,” shared Phillips.

“KQ, he has such a high talent, but sometimes, that overshadows how good of a person he is. I’m sure, being a great player comes with great distractions and great noise, but something I really bonded with him is that he’s a strong believer of God as well”

“KQ, when I first saw him, he was just a quiet guy, but I really saw how much passion he had in everything he does. It’s really contagious, and I think that may be overlooked,” Phillips added.

The Archers may have fallen short of defending their crown and completing a repeat, but for Mike, this does not change the fact that Quiambao did it all for his teammates, and he did not fail them an any way, shape, or form.

“KQ, he is my brother, and whatever the noise, I’m always behind him,” emphasized the Season 87 Mythical Team member. “He’s shown in the very tough times that he has my back, he has La Salle’s back, so I’ll always have his back.”

Also expressing his appreciation was Robinson, one of the individuals whom KQ has always expressed his gratitude for in helping him reach the level where he is today.

“Obviously, the legacy that KQ brought with us is something that we’re so grateful sa kanya,” said Robinson of his star player that helped him win his first major championship as a head coach.

Quiambao already had a number of offers to play elsewhere before Season 87, some it if being a reported offer to play for the New York Knicks in the NBA Summer League, and a naturalization bid by the United Arab Emirates among others. But he ultimately opted to return to Taft Avenue for another go-around with the Green Archers, which is why Robinson is thankful for Kevin’s decision to do so.

“Hindi naman ito sorpresa that this might be his final season and we prepared well for this, so we thank him for his service. It is what it is. He gave us until the final buzzer, and he never gave up.”

READ: KQ clears air on Knicks’ Summer League, UAE naturalization offers

READ: Kevin Quiambao exits La Salle to pursue NBA dream, play in KBL

Quiambao will now be moving on to the professional ranks in pursuit of his dream to play in the NBA, and his first step in doing so is suiting up for the Goyang Sono SkyGunners in the Korean Basketball League.
De La Salle University superstar Kevin Quiambao after the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.But just before he flies to the Land of the Morning Calm, Quiambao made it sure that he has expressed his parting message to the Green Archers after what turned out to be his last-ever game with them.

“Mahal ko sila,” he said. “As a leader, wala ako masabi. We fought hard, medyo kinapos lang. I’m proud of all my teammates. Yung hard work na ginawa nila since day one, grabe kasi sobrang dami naming pinagsamahan throughout the offseason, the whole season. Basta mahal ko sila lahat, excited ako for what the future holds, and then excited ako na andyan na sila Kean baclaan, Jacob Cortez, Luis Pablo, and Mason Amos.”

Kevin Quiambao might have only stayed in La Salle for three seasons, but his gift of success, the Season 86 championship, and his legacy will live on well after his departure from Taft.

”He’ll be remembered as one of the great Lasallians, one of the best to ever wear that jersey,” hailed Robinson of his star.