In a how of empathy amid competition, De La Salle University head coach Topex Robinson called for leniency toward University of the East guard Wello Lingolingo, whose three-game suspension stemmed from an incident that sidelined Green Archer Kean Baclaan for the rest of the season.
Speaking after La Salle’s 72-69 win over the University of the Philippines on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Robinson broke his silence on the play that occurred last Wednesday — when Lingolingo dove for possession and landed on the right knee of Green Archer Kean Baclaan during a scramble.
The collision resulted in an MCL injury that will keep Baclaan out for most likely the rest of the season.
The UAAP Basketball Commissioner’s Office later slapped Lingolingo with a three-game ban for the unsportsmanlike foul.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“I also wanna just talk about, I know it’s already late, but me and Kean had a talk yesterday, and he felt sorry that Wello has to lose three games,” said Robinson.
“The coach and competitor in me, obviously, he deserves to get suspended. But the father in me is pardoning the committee to kind of lower the games because he’s not really a bad player. Those incidents really happen,” he continued.
“Sana mabigyan pa siya ng chance na makabalik ng mas maaga because three games is gonna be huge for him. I’m not talking about UE as a team but Wello as a person because he’s a nice kid and I hope that he will be given a chance.”
Lingolingo has been a key piece for the Red Warriors, who remain winless in the first round of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament. Their losing streak, dating back to the second round of Season 87, has now stretched to 13 games.
Adding to UE’s woes, head coach Chris Gavina was also handed a four-game suspension by the UAAP Board of Managing Directors for his profanity-laced postgame remarks following that same contest.
Despite losing Baclaan — a former NU standout whose debut season with La Salle has been cut short — Robinson and the Green Archers have chosen to focus on compassion rather than retaliation.
“I know he made his mistake and I hope he’ll be given a chance to lessen ‘yung suspension because I know how hard it is gonna be for him,” Robinson said.
“We already lost our player; we don’t wanna lose other players for other teams because ang hirap. It’s hard for me to lose Kean and Mason, but I know how also hard it is for Wello. So hopefully, he will be given at least a fair share of suspension.”
#WATCH: Topex Robinson appeals to the #UAAPSeason88 Commissioner’s Office to reconsider Wello Lingolingo’s suspension 🏹 🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/RFQGuSV5rE
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— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) October 19, 2025
