Topex Robinson took full responsibility after De La Salle University’s bid for back-to-back UAAP titles fell short in a 62-66 loss to the University of the Philippines in a thrilling Game 3 on Sunday.
The match, played in front of a record-breaking crowd of 25,248 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, marked the end of the Green Archers’ back-to-back bid.
A pivotal moment came at the 5:20 mark of the fourth quarter, when Robinson decided to pull two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao off the court and replace him with Mike Phillips. At that point, La Salle was trailing by just three points, 61-58. Without any stoppages in play, Quiambao remained on the bench until the 1:49 mark, with the score unchanged at 61-58.
The defeat extended La Salle’s streak of failed attempts to secure consecutive UAAP men’s basketball championships, a feat they last achieved with a four-peat from 1998 to 2001.
Despite losing only twice in the elimination round and cruising past the Adamson Soaring Falcons in the Final Four, the Green Archers fell short in a grueling best-of-three series against the Fighting Maroons.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Well, sabi ko nga, those are the breaks, you know that it could happen ‘eh. At this point, I cannot change what I decided on. I’ll be—I take full responsibility for it. So, yun yung mga bagay that kinda obviously pag-inisip mo pa, it’s done and over with,” said Robinson, now in his second year as La Salle’s head coach.
“I guess the earlier you recover from this experience, the better for us because at the end of the day, I make the decisions, and I’ll be responsible for all the decisions that I make. You have to take responsibility for that if it falls down, and if it did well, you give the credit.”
The Green Archers now face a “rebuilding phase”, with the departure of graduating guard Joshua David and one-and-done guard Lian Ramiro, as well as Quiambao’s looming move to the Korean Basketball League’s Goyang Sono.
Despite the setbacks, Robinson remained optimistic, highlighting how La Salle’s younger players handled the pressure of their first-ever UAAP Finals.
He expressed confidence that the experience would fuel the growth of Doy Dungo, Vhoris Marasigan, and Nigerian center Henry Agunanne as they prepare for Season 88.
“It’s just nice to see the guys that are moving on for Season 88, like Doy, si Vhoris, you know, even Henry. Those are the things that will ignite the fire in them. Obviously, the legacy that KQ brought with us is really something that we’re so grateful for. But moving forward, sabi nga namin, it’s part of basketball. You don’t always win, but you learn from it. It’s gonna keep our fire alive, and it’s just gonna keep on burning,” Robinson said.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Green Archers’ redemption campaign for Season 88 will also be bolstered by a deep class of blue-chip recruits set to fill the void left by David, Ramiro, and Quiambao.
In anticipation of these departures, Robinson and his staff secured commitments from several top prospects, including former San Beda Red Lion Jacob Cortez, ex-Ateneo Blue Eagle Mason Amos, former NU Bulldog Kean Baclaan, and former Fighting Maroon Luis Pablo, among others.
“There’s those guys that are coming in, and sabi ko nga, it’s nice to see the future of the program is still exciting. Having those guys coming in is something to look forward to and be excited about for Season 88.”
