In a nostalgic twist of fate, the renowned Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Batman and Robin duo of Topex Robinson and Jeff Perlas found themselves on the court together once again on Monday
However, this time, they were not fighting side by side but rather as opponents. Robinson, the head coach of De La Salle University, and Perlas, leading Centro Escolar University, crossed paths during the 2023 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Monday.
For Robinson, seeing his former partner take charge of a team brought him immense joy.
He believes that the Scorpions were in good hands under Perlas’s leadership.
“I’m just so happy to see him coach the team. It’s a testament to our shared vision of producing future head coaches. Coach Jeff is doing an excellent job alongside the coaching staff of CEU,” Robinson expressed after La Salle’s victory against CEU, with a final score of 90-74.
The opportunity to face Perlas as a rival provided Robinson with a chance for growth and learning. He saw it as an exciting prospect to play against someone he considered his own. Moreover, he recognized that his young team had much to gain from the experience.
“There are a lot of learning opportunities for us as a young team, so it goes both ways,” Robinson added.
For Perlas, facing Robinson stirred up a whirlwind of emotions reminiscent of their time coaching together at Lyceum.
He couldn’t help but become emotional when meeting one of the people who had a profound impact on his life. Pausing midway through his conversation, he let his tears flow freely.
“It’s surreal, to be honest. We’ve been together for the past seven to eight years, and we really put LPU back on the collegiate basketball map. We turned the program around, and now it feels strange not to see him on the same bench. The emotions are still there,” Perlas said, overcome with feelings.
“I miss the guy.
“Siyempre, my journey is not possible without him, siyempre he empowered me during the times with LPU, and I’m grateful. It’s just weird seeing him at the other side siyempre,” he expressed.
Their bond went beyond basketball, stretching back eight years to when they worked as skill coaches for Xavier School’s elementary team in 2012.
Two years later, their partnership continued at Lyceum, where they coached the Pirates for five years. Their collaboration led to back-to-back Finals appearances in NCAA Season 93 and 94, including an impressive 18-0 sweep of the eliminations in Season 93.
Both Robinson and Perlas shared the dream of becoming head coaches of their own teams and influencing future coaches through their wise guidance and motivation. Perlas mentioned that they even fantasized about coaching together in the UAAP league someday, although only time will reveal whether this dream will come true.
Regardless of their current roles as rivals, the duo maintained a tight bond. Robinson expressed, “To me, we will always be one, despite being on different teams. If given the chance, I would always rely on someone I have trusted and fought countless battles with, like Coach Jeff.”
Perlas echoed this sentiment, emphasizing his focus on building a strong culture in CEU while using the lessons he learned from Robinson.
As they continue their separate coaching journeys, Robinson and Perlas pledged their unwavering support for each other. They recognized the importance of personal growth and nurturing their individual relationships with their respective teams.
Their bond as Batman and Robin remains unbreakable, with a shared goal of leaving a lasting impact on the basketball community.
