(UPDATE) KEVIN Quiambao and the defending champs De La Salle Green Archers expressed excitement about facing rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles in the second round of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
While Quiambao's La Salle is on a tear with a six-game win run and has already secured a Final Four berth with a 9-1 slate, Ateneo has generally struggled this year with a 3-6 record albeit the Katipunan-based team is on a two-game win streak.
Quiambao, the league's reigning Most Valuable Player, knows full well that there's extra motivation for La Salle when facing Ateneo and true is the same for the latter.
The Archers bested the Eagles in their first-round clash on September 15, 74-61.
"Nothing but respect to Ateneo, to coach Tab [Baldwin]. We all know that despite their standings, they play differently against La Salle, so I'm really excited," said Quiambao, whose La Salle team secured a semis passage after a 70-45 rout of Adamson on October 19.
Quiambao pumped 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in that contest, while Joshua David aided him with 11 markers, four assists and three boards.
David echoed Quiambao's sentiment on facing the Blue Eagles, who last saw action in a 67-64 win over the UST Growling Tigers also on October 19.
Ateneo was supposed to take the court on October 23 but the UAAP postponed that match and all its games that day to later dates due to inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm Kristine.
"As KQ said, we should treat every game as a championship one. We're going to prepare well, especially since it's Ateneo, but we also need to enjoy it," said David.
La Salle coach Topex Robinson, meanwhile, was more detailed in his answer when asked about facing Ateneo.
"It will never change, whether where you are now and what you're standing is, you just forget everything because it's gonna be Ateneo. We know they're also coming off a good run. Their guys are really picking up the system. Their staff are doing theirs with coach Tab," said Robinson.
"There's always gonna be excitement. You play one of the best programs and there's so much history in this, and we're just grateful to be a part of it. We keep reminding our players that we watched those rivalries when we're growing up, and we dreamed of being part of that rivalry and being part of that historic matchup. I guess more than anything else, we're so excited to play our worthy rivals."