CAN Lebron Jhames Daep be the second coming of Kevin Quiambao in La Salle?

Topex Robinson sure hopes so.

But the Green Archers mentor made it clear that getting to that level takes a lot of work.

"I told him you got to want it the same way that KQ did it," he told SPIN.ph on Friday following the blockbuster acquisition of the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball MVP.

Robinson has already went to work with Daep and floated the idea of him playing as a three and four - deviating from the center position he filled in Perpetual.

PHOTO: Mark Cristino

It's much the same with Quiambao who was the big for NU-Nazareth School before becoming the Swiss army knife that he is at the wing for La Salle and Gilas Pilipinas.

"Nung sinabi ko sa kanya na he can fill the role left of Raven [Gonzales], medyo nanlaki yung mata niya because he really wants to try playing in the wing," Robinson shared. "The thing about Lebron is he's versatile and he's skilled, so we're excited to have him."

It also helps that he's crowded with fellow bigs in Mike Phillips, Luis Pablo, and Mason Amos - all of whom can contribute to his development.

"One thing I really liked when Lebron arrived was the response of the team. Luis even said that he'll do to Lebron what KQ did to him which was to take Lebron under his wing. Kumbaga, he wants to pay it forward," said Robinson.

"Sakto rin sa amin cause he'll get to play this season with Mike, and then he'll have two years with Luis and Mason."

PHOTO: NBTC/Hero Dela Pena

More than Daep's 6-foot-6 frame, Robinson beamed on the rookie's maturity, saying, "He's a champion player, so we don't expect him to be fluttered by the pressure and he fits just right with the program that we have. Kumbaga, 'di na siya kakabahan when he plays in the big games because he has been in that position before."

Of course, there's a lot more basketball to be played for Daep to even get to a sliver of Quiambao's greatness.

But don't rule that out anytime soon.

Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph