After 30 elimination round games, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates were dealt their first loss last Friday. And it came in dramatic fashion as Prince Eze knocked down a putback buzzer-beater to end Lyceum’s streak, 81-83.
But instead of sulking or blaming themselves for the loss, fourth-year Pirates head coach Topex Robinson made his players head to a charitable institution. He wanted to show them that there is more to life than basketball.
Photo from Kim Cinco
“Yes we might have lost that game. As soon as after that game, we did a charity with Little Brave Hearts. It’s an institution that takes care of kids with down syndrome. They need our help,” said Robinson about their trip last Sunday.
“As much as we have to cry about losing a game, these kids are fighting for their lives. So there’s so much more to winning and losing basketball games.
“It’s just something that being with those kids. More than the kids, it’s the parents that really needs our support, our moral support. We wanna let it out there. More than crying about losing to Perpetual — and Perpetual was the better team that afternoon, we told ourselves we promote. We use social media as a platform to really have the support of the kids because they really need our help,” the youthful tactician furthered.
Four days after, the Pirates seemed rejuvenated as they blew out the Arellano Chiefs, 113-79. But for Robinson and the Pirates, every game is their way of giving back to the people that look up on them.
“We were so happy to be part of their day. They just gave us a reason for us to be grateful for everything that we get. Mga blessing na nakukuha namin.
“We have to keep on pursuing what we’re pursuing. We talked about the vision of this team. The winning is a byproduct of what we’re doing. There’s so many things that we do that still need our help and that’s where we’re focusing on,” he closed.
Photo from Kim Cinco
