De La Salle University head coach Topex Robinson downplayed a post-game incident between him and members of the University of the Philippines following Game One of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament Finals.
After the Fighting Maroons’ 73-65 victory over the Green Archers, Robinson and UP captain Gerry Abadiano were seen approaching each other to exchange handshakes.
However, assistant coach Tom Chua intervened, pushing Abadiano away from Robinson.
@user2913440601933 UP Asst Coach Tom Chua being disrespectful as usual 😂 Wouldn’t let Reyland Torres shake hands with Coach Topex #uaapseason87 #finalsgame1 ♬ original sound – charlie’s mom
When asked about the incident, Robinson dismissed it as nothing significant, noting that Chua might have done it as a preemptive act.
“I was approaching Gerry Abadiano because, in our last game, I wasn’t able to shake hands with him when he sought me out,” Robinson explained in an interview with Tiebreaker Times.
“I think Coach Tom thought something was happening between us, which is why he pushed Gerry away,” added Robinson as he and Chua even exchanged a handshake during the post-game pleasantries.
“But it was nothing really.”
The two teams have had a tense history, dating back to allegations against Robinson, which were ultimately unproven, and the coach has often found himself at odds with the UP camp.
During Game One, he was also jeered by the Maroon crowd when his face appeared on screen.
Despite these distractions, Robinson remains focused on the task at hand.
With his team now down 1-0 in the finals, Robinson and the Green Archers feel determined to bounce back in Game Two this Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and force a winner-take-all Game Three on Sunday.
“The only thing I told the team is that there’s a reason this is a series,” Robinson said. “You don’t win a championship by just winning one game. You need to win two games, so we still have a chance.
“We’ve been in this situation before. We just have to stay positive. The players in the dugout reminded each other to stay positive and learn from this experience.”
