TOKYO – The Philippines’ De La Salle University (DLSU) forward Kevin Quiambao dedicated his MVP award in the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) to his mother, who resides in Japan. The Green Archers clinched the championship title in their debut at the tournament, defeating Korea University 101-86 in the gold medal game Monday night at Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium.
“First of all, I’m so grateful to God, the entire La Salle community, and our culture. Credit to my teammates; I couldn’t have done this without them. I’m humbled and blessed to represent the Philippines and La Salle,” Quiambao told the Filipino-Japanese Journal.
Quiambao expressed how personal this win was, especially since his mother is a resident of Warabi City in Saitama Prefecture.
“It means a lot to me because my mom lives here. Winning the MVP in front of my whole family is special,” he said.
Looking ahead, he noted that the team still has time to prepare for the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season.
Coach Topex on Winning the Championship
Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson conveyed his joy over winning the title and acknowledged the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who won the championship in the inaugural tournament in 2022.
“It feels great. Ateneo paved the way for us by winning the championship two years ago, and now we’re continuing what they started. We’re just so happy to represent not only De La Salle but also the Philippines in this tournament,” he said to the Filipino-Japanese Journal.
Robinson highlighted the uniqueness of this victory, considering last season’s (UAAP 86) lineup was largely new.
“Half of the players are new, so it’s a learning experience. It’s something we can carry into UAAP Season 87,” he said.
As for what’s next after their WUBS stint, Robinson added, “We want to enjoy this. We still have a day here in Japan. I always tell our players to cherish these shared experiences and memories.”
When asked about participating in WUBS next year, he commented, “That’s always our vision. Our standards for the basketball program are high. We’ll always try our best, aiming to either win a championship or die trying.”
Sports Diplomacy
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano supported DLSU during the tournament, recognizing the significance of their win for the Philippines and the Filipino community in Japan.
“Of course, we take pride in our achievements, coming off the Paris Olympics with two golds and two bronzes. Now, we’ve won the WUBS championship here in Japan. Congratulations to our De La Salle University team, their coaches, and supporters. They bring pride to the Philippines and the Filipino community here in Japan,” she told the Filipino-Japanese Journal.
Talking about the impact of sports diplomacy in strengthening ties between Japan and the Philippines, the envoy highlighted the importance of showcasing Filipino talent on an international stage.
“We hope Japan will be encouraged to continue supporting our Filipino athletes. We’ve already seen Carlos Yulo train here. We hope our success will open up more opportunities for training and collaboration in sports development,” she said.
Before the final game, DLSU defeated Indonesia’s Perbanas Institute and last year’s champion National Chengchi University of Taiwan during the three-day basketball tournament. - Words and interview by Florenda Corpuz, Photos by Din Eugenio
