Young stars Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao clash on UAAP opening day
Younger stars Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao conflict within the opening day of the UAAP Season 85 males’s basketball match. –FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines — Former highschool teammates Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao conflict for the primary time as defending champion College of the Philippines opens its title-retention bid towards La Salle within the UAAP Season 85 males’s basketball match on Saturday at Mall of Asia Enviornment.
The rematch of final season’s Ultimate 4 match up, which options the 2 Gilas Pilipinas huge males, is ready at 4 p.m.
After taking part in collectively at Nazareth Faculty of Nationwide College and profitable two UAAP juniors titles, Quiambao is ready to make his school debut for the Inexperienced Archers towards former coach Goldwin Monteverde and ex-teammates Tamayo, Gerry Abadiano, Terrence Fortea, and Harold Alarcon.
The 21-year-old Quiambao, who final performed within the UAAP two years in the past throughout the juniors’ basketball championship, is raring to play towards his fellow Nazareth Faculty standouts who helped finish the Combating Maroons’ 36-year title drought.
“I’m so excited (to play towards them) on the similar time I used to be completely satisfied to witness their success final season from our progress after we had been in highschool,” mentioned the La Salle rookie. “In truth, we talked earlier than that wherever (college) we go, the purpose is to win a championship.”
Tamayo, final season’s prime rookie who’s now tasked to guide UP, downplayed his marquee match-up towards the 6-foot-4 ahead along with his sole focus to assist his staff win the primary sport of their title-retention bid.
“It’s not about Kevin or me, it’s about UP or La Salle. Whoever would be the higher staff this upcoming opening day,” mentioned the 6-foot-7 Cebuano, who was additionally a member of Season 84’s legendary staff. “We’re simply going to compete. I’m going to assist my staff as a lot as I can to win this sport.”
Gilas Pilipinas’ younger stars vs New Zealand. –FIBA BASKETBALL
Tamayo and Quiambao each had a fruitful offseason as they performed for Gilas collectively within the third window of the Fiba World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers and the Asian Cup final July. The Combating Maroon additionally noticed motion within the fourth window towards Lebanon with Kai Sotto and NBA star Jordan Clarkson.
La Salle holds a grudge towards UP as Tamayo’s heroics erased the the Inexperienced Archers’ 14-point lead within the final 4 minutes of their do-or-die Ultimate 4 sport to set a championship duel with Ateneo, which it beat in Recreation 3 for the historic title.
Quiambao might not have been a part of the staff when it suffered the heartbreaking semifinal loss, however he’s promising to assist La Salle that it gained’t occur once more.
“All of us gamers can’t neglect that loss final season. This yr, I need to assist them by embracing my position. And as a lot as doable, I gained’t let my staff expertise that form of state of affairs once more. Each sport and each possession, we are going to give our greatest,” he mentioned.
Each La Salle and UP had a fruitful preseason with the Inexperienced Archers ruling the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, ending third within the FilOil EcoOil Cup, and capping their preparation in Japan, whereas the Maroons participated within the FilOil and UCBL and skilled in South Korea.
The Season 85 opening ceremony will likely be pre-recorded, earlier than Adamson and UST kick off the boys’s basketball season at 2 p.m.
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