WHOEVER said that University of the Philippines has already moved on from the alleged spitting incident in its first-round match-up against La Salle couldn’t be any more wrong.
If the past two games between the new-age rivals are any indication, it seems there are people from the Fighting Maroons camp who still hold a grudge against Green Archers coach Topex Robinson.
Fan footages after UP’s 73-65 Game One win in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals saw deputy coach Tom Chua pushing Gerry Abadiano away to prevent him from shaking hands with Robinson.
READ Topex relieved to put spitting allegation behind him
And then there was UP staff Ryan Alba moving away from engaging in the customary postgame pleasantries with Robinson after La Salle’s 77-66 win over UP in the second round. This drew criticism from fans on social media.
Sources told SPIN.ph that UP's attitude towards the Green Archers' head coach stems from a widely reported incident in which Robinson allegedly spat on UP player Reyland Torres during their first-round matchup.
But Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde appeared to have moved on from that incident and shook Robinson’s hand after each game, win or lose..
However, at the rate things are moving, it may possibly take a while before things really return to normal between the two teams. As Francis Lopez alluded, this one’s personal.
Ateneo quest for redemption begins
LOUIE Alas accompanied his son Kieffer at the Siklab Youth Awards last Thursday to receive his Youth Heroes Award at the Ayala Malls Market Market in Taguig City.
When SPIN.ph caught up with him, Alas said he continues to do many other things after giving up his position as head coach of the Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines in the MPBL.
One of which is being the assistant coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who, in a rare occurrence, missed the Final Four of the UAAP basketball tournament. Even worse, the team finished in last place with a 4-10 win-loss card.
Alas said the work has begun in the Blue Eagles’ nest with head coach Tab Baldwin regrouping his staff just two days after the end of the campaign last November 23.
“Akala naming mga assistant coaches, bakasyon na. After two days, tumawag ng meeting si coach Tab, brainstorming, planning about kung paano kami mag-iimprove,” said Alas.
“Meron na agad kaming open practices, tawag nga niya doon, open gym. Lahat ng mga previous alumni ng Ateneo, naglaro, dumadating, tapos ‘yung present players, sumasama sa scrimmages. May mga walk-ins kami na puwedeng maglaro sa amin.
“’Yung bakasyon, wala,” said Alas.
Not that Alas is complaining because he knows the competitive fire in Baldwin runs deep.
He said the result has deeply affected the Ateneo community and the hurt was felt deepest by the coaches, especially Coach Tab.
“ Ang sama, pinakamasamang performance ng Ateneo," Alas said, but added that he "expects a lot from Ateneo next year."
"Hindi kami papayag, especially Coach Tab, ‘yung alumni, hindi papayag na mangyayari uli ito."
While Baldwin is dead set on having a better performance for the Blue Eagles next year, there is also the chatter about his future with the team. WIll he still be around for a possible rebound?- Reuben Terrado
WHERE'S SIOT?
Almost a month after NLEX announced the addition of the 52-year-old Tanquingcen to its coaching staff, no one has yet seen, not even the shadow of the champion coach during games of the Road Warriors in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
And so SPIN.ph asked around and learned from sources the one time point guard from University of Santo Tomas is currently recuperating from a hip replacement surgery.
The surgery apparently, has long been scheduled and couldn’t be postponed anymore, which explains the reason for Tanquingcen’s continuous absence on the NLEX bench.
But he did show up numerous times in the team practices shortly after being signed by the franchise for a coaching reunion between him and former San Miguel partner Jong Uichico.
So far, the Road Warriors are doing well in their campaign in the mid-season conference where they currently shared third place with guest team Eastern at 3-1.
The team scored its biggest win so far Sunday behind a 104-99 come-from-behind victory against defending champion San Miguel in a game where main man Robert Bolick erupted for 39 points, including 20 in the final quarter to rally back NLEX from a 19-point deficit. - Gerry Ramos
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
