A day after De La Salle University head coach Topex Robinson aired his grievances on the recent “spitgate” allegations, University of the Philippines guard Reyland Torres gave his thoughts exactly a week after the said incident.
Torres remained thankful for the decision of the UAAP’s commissioner’s office that spared both him and Robinson from a suspension that could heavily impact both the Fighting Maroons and Green Archers’ second-round campaigns.
Prior to La Salle’s 77-68 win over University of the East yesterday, the league’s investigation concluded that Torres passed very closely to Robinson on two occasions during the game.
Both of those incidents led to the altercation between them, which prompted Robinson to use language unbecoming of a coach.
Ultimately, both of them were given stern warnings for unsportsmanlike conduct during the game.
“Okay lang naman sa akin ‘yon. Ang akin lang, pinag-isipan kasi nila yon para maging patas sila. Para sa part nila, mas mahirap din ‘yon ‘eh, yung maging safe,” the 22-year-old guard told reporters after UP’s 83-73 win against UST to open its second round campaign on Sunday evening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Kung ano man yung naging desisyon nila, thankful lang ako doon.”
His coaches and teammates poured on the support, reminding Torres that there is a bigger battle awaiting the Fighting Maroons rather than the ‘spitgate’ issue.
Thanks to them, the former Bullpup headed into their game against the Growling Tigers with his head held high.
While Torres struggled from the field with four points on 1-of-6 shooting to go along with five assists, three rebounds, and a steal, his positive mindset impacted UP at the right place and the right time.
The Fighting Maroons had to dig deep, utilizing a fourth-quarter surge to finally tame a pesky Growling Tigers side.
“Nag-focus lang ako sa game. Hinayaan ko na muna yung incident na yon kasi mas mahalaga yung team namin ‘eh. Mas mahalaga yung bawat isa sa amin. May goal kami as a team ‘eh, doon na lang kami magfo-focus,” the Bago City, Negros Occidental native shared.
“Nandiyan sila sa akin ‘eh. Sobrang hindi nila sinasabi sa akin yung sinasabi nila na wala na ‘yon, na-explain na, talo is talo na. Yung game na ito, dito kami nag-focus. Hindi namin inisip ‘yon kasi hindi ko itataya yung team namin sa incident na ‘yon,” he continued.
On the other hand, UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde shared the same sentiments as Torres, pledging to abide by the decision given by the UAAP’s commissioner’s office.
In addition, Monteverde believes that when a similar or even the same incident arises again in the near future, the league will remain impartial and strict in giving out warnings and decisions to protect the well-being of its athletes.
“Online-wise, hindi ko naman kung ano yung lumalabas sa mga usapin. I guess nagdesisyon na rin yung UAAP, which siyempre kami we’ll abide by it. I’m sure naman on our part, hindi naman ‘yon basta desisyon na ginawa nila,” the fourth-year head coach shared.
“Pinag-isipan nila ‘yon ng maayos. Sa amin, siyempre we would respect that.”
“Nangyari yung nangyari. At the end of the day, I’m very confident that the UAAP will be very strict on kung may mangyaring incident ng pangdudura or mga ganong bagay sa game. For me, what’s important is yung wellbeing ng players, si Reyland at sa lahat ng involved diyan. Hopefully siguro hindi mangyari ‘yon ulit,” he concluded.
#WATCH: UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde urges the community to respect the UAAP’s decision on the case between Topex Robinson and Reyland Torres
📹 Justin Valencia/Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/K3tiDqVXo6
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) October 13, 2024
