After facing significant backlash from the recent “spitgate” allegations, De La Salle University head coach Topex Robinson has aired his grievances, emphasizing the importance of integrity in the sport.
Robinson hopes that in the future, accusations regarding anyone’s character won’t be carelessly thrown around on social media.
This comes after the Green Archers’ 77-68 victory over the UE Red Warriors in the second-round opener of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament, where commissioner Xavy Nunag issued stern warnings to both Robinson and Torres for unsportsmanlike conduct during the game.
The league’s investigation concluded that Robinson had used language unbecoming of a coach, resulting in the warning for the second-year UAAP tactician.
“Yung huhusgahan niyo po ako nang hindi niyo muna nakukuha yung totoong storya, siyempre po masakit din para sakin. But nakikiusap lang po ako sana na huwag na po tayong maglabas or magbatuhan ng accusation because we are playing this game of basketball and we just want to enjoy it,” Robinson said.
His call to stop the spread of false accusations comes after Tricia Endozo-Villanueva, a UP fan, publicly humiliated him in front of his family following La Salle’s 68-56 win over UP last Sunday.
Robinson explained that he did not respond to Endozo-Villanueva’s allegations because the spitting accusations against him were untrue.
“Pati po sana yung sumigaw sakin doon sa MOA, Mrs. Villanueva, yung pinahiya niyo po ako sa harap ng pamilya ko, sa harap ng tao na inakusahan niyo po ako. Kaya ko po kayo hindi masagot dahil hindi po talaga akong gumawa noon. But sana po pag nagkita tayo meron din po kayong lakas ng loob na magsabi sakin na mali po yung inakusahan niyo sakin,” he elaborated.
In addition to calling out Endozo-Villanueva, Robinson addressed his detractors on social media, who had degraded his character by comparing him to informal settlers or ‘squatter.’
He stated that such ‘squatter’ allegations following the alleged spitgate incident overshadow his true personality and accomplishments both on and off the court.
“Hindi ko po alam kung bakit po ang squatter eh sinasabihan ng masama. Yan po yung hindi ko lang alam. At ngayon po, nakikiusap din po sana ako, sana po huwag din po natin akusahan yung bata dahil hindi niya po kakayanin yung pinagdaanan ko,” Robinson said.
“Kung nasaan po man ako ngayon, wala po akong dinayang tao. Nanalo po ako ng mga games dahil po ginawa ko yung tama. So para po akusahan niyo ako ng masamang tao, pero pinapatawad ko po kayo dahil I will always live by what we always pray at La Salle,” he continued.
In his rare opportunity to address the public, Robinson not only urged an end to the allegations against him but also called for understanding towards the 22-year-old guard, Torres.
The league’s investigation determined that Torres had passed very closely to Robinson on two occasions during the game, which sparked the altercation between them and led Robinson to use language unbecoming of a coach.
“Sana po bigyan rin natin siya ng pangunawa sa mga nagawa niya dahil alam ko po gaano kahirap yun. Muli po humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa bata dahil po sa nagawa kong pagsigaw sa kanya at sana po magkaroon din tayo ng pagkakataon na makalimutan na po natin ito. Sawa na po tayo sa kakabato ng bintang sa ibang tao at sana po, maging lesson po sana ito sa lahat na kung wala po kayong sure na proof, huwag po kayong mag-akusa kasi napakasakit po. Iningatan ko po yung pangalan ko ng napakatagal,” he concluded.
