IN the next few days, La Salle coach Topex Robinson and his coaching staff will probably decipher the what-ifs of the last UAAP basketball championship game.
What if he had not decided to pull Kevin Quiambao from the game with 5 minutes, 13 seconds left in the game? What if there was a chance to stop the game to allow Quiambao in?
In the end, what-ifs do not decide games and Robinson has fully taken the responsibility for what transpired and has accepted the results - a lost game and a lost championship.
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As his players consoled themselves, Robinson stood on the Green Archers’ end of the court, his eyes straight on a UP Fighting Maroons squad which was wildly celebrating its second UAAP championship in four years.
While his stoic expression failed to hide the disappointment of a foiled title repeat, Robinson warmly shook the hands of each and every UP staff, player and supporter who swung his way, all while still soaking in the festivities of an ecstatic State U side and also witnessing the pain from their enormous gallery, many of whom believed the title was there for the taking.
It wasn’t too long ago when Robinson was on the other end of the court, exchanging hugs when he finally won a major collegiate championship as a coach last year with La Salle.
As someone who’s been on both ends of the floor, he knows that this is all part of the league's ebb and flow. That's why he knows that it's important to be in the moment regardless of the results.
“You just enjoy the moment. It's not always gonna go the way you want, but we want to keep on soaking this moment because it’s the thing I’ll remember for Season 88. I want to feel this moment and give respect where respect is due,” Robinson said.
READ: Kevin Quiambao confirms he's Korea-bound in farewell to La Salle
With an intact core and one of the most impressive preseasons to a UAAP tournament, La Salle came in as a heavy favorite, even against the mighty UP Fighting Maroons squad.
They certainly remained the favorite, up until the Fighting Maroons dealt them a 73-65 defeat in Game One of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Finals, and that was enough proof that in this league, nothing is really certain – even for powerhouse teams like them.
“I couldn’t ask for a better end to this game than just playing it in front of that crowd. We don’t know if we’ll play in the Finals next season, because that’s not guaranteed. It’s just nice to be a fan of basketball as well, kaya you just enjoy it,” he stated.
“Kudos to that team as well, they gave us a run for our money and I’m just happy to experience it. We don’t cry over spilled milk. It’s over and done with. We just came out with so much pride with the way we fought.”
Leading from the front
Him standing on the forefront of a wild celebration was also a perfect imagery of his leadership with this team.
As it was for the entire season, Robinson stayed in the front and owned up his team’s shortcomings, while giving credit to his players when they’re up front.
It was the same in this game when he decided to sit out Quiambao in the fourth for one quick breather before the final push.
It wasn’t unusual for coaches to do this, but in this case for La Salle, it backfired as a continuous string of possessions didn’t give the two-time UAAP MVP an opportunity to check back in.
Quiambao returned to the floor with 1:48 remaining, the game still pretty much in the balance, but one can only wonder what ‘KQ’ could’ve done in the three extra minutes he spent waiting on the scorer’s table.
Robinson owned up to it, but like this loss, he doesn’t plan on dwelling on it for long.
“Those are the breaks, either way, it could happen. At this point, I cannot change what’s already done. I take full responsibility. Yun yung mga bagay na pag inisip mo pa, it’s done and over with,” he stated.
“I guess the earlier you recover from this experience, the better for us cause at the end of the day, I’ll make the decisions and I’ll be responsible for all of the decisions I make. You have to take responsibility. If it falls down and it does well, you give up the credit.”
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