AN emotional Topex Robinson faced the media for the first time on Saturday as the La Salle coach poured his heart out following the alleged spitting incident in its game against University of the Philippines last week.
It was a trying week for the soft-spoken mentor who couldn’t help but cry foul as his reputation was put into question.
“Yung huhusgahan niyo po ako nang hindi niyo muna kinuha yung totoong story, syempre po masakit din para sa akin. 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,” he said.
Robinson also expressed gratitude for all of those who heard his side from the media, and even those who didn’t, as well as those in the Lasallian community.
“I want to thank my 'friends' from the media. I know that you have to do things because you need to do things because of your job. The social media people that need to have likes and need to have followers and have to do things that hindi man lang ako kinuhanan ng statement and made those stories, I want to thank you,” he stated.
“But I also want to thank my real friends in the media that respected my space, respected my silence, and didn't come out with any story that's not one-sided. I know who you are and I'll be forever grateful for you guys. And I'm just so fortunate that I have my Lasallian family, the team, the management, and all the people that came up to me and tried to support me because tao rin po ako.”
Tears welled up Robinson’s eyes as he continued, calling out a certain Mrs. Villanueva for shouting at him after the La Salle-UP game and accused him of unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Yung sumigaw sa akin doon sa MOA, si 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 ako ang gumawa noon,” he said explaining his side.
“But sana po pag nagkita tayo, meron din po kayo sanang lakas ng loob na magsabi sa akin na mali po yung inakusa niyo sa akin.”
UAAP’s investigation deemed the spitting allegations inconclusive, but Robinson and University of the Philippines’ guard Reyland Torres were given stern warnings for “displaying behaviors that do not reflect the values of sportsmanship upheld by the UAAP and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA)” for exchanging profane language.
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Robinson also couldn’t help but feel for those who said hurtful words at him, particularly those who called him a “squatter.”
“Yung mga tumawag po sa akin ng squatter, maraming salamat din po sa inyo dahil talaga po namang naghirap ako at kung ano man po yung naramdaman o yung na-achieve ko ngayon, dahil po pinagsikapan ko,” he said.
“Ang tanong ko lang po: kapag po ba squatter, masamang tao? Kasi po tinawag po akong squatter eh. So hindi ko po alam kung saan nanggaling yun. Pero pag squatter po ba, masamang tao na yun? Di ba po ang squatter, hindi naman po nila ginustong maghirap sila pero nagsikap sila, nag-aral sila, nakukuha sila ng scholarship, at ngayon nagkaroon sila ng maayos na buhay, at ginamit nila yung kahirapan nila para maging maayos yung buhay nila para sa pamilya nila.”
“Hindi ko po alam kung bakit po ang squatter eh sinasabihan ng masama. Yan po yung hindi ko lang alam.”
Robinson also used his avenue to ask for compassion for Torres, wishing that this issue will now be put into rest and asking for forgiveness for his unsportsmanlike conduct of hurling expletives at him in the heat of the moment.
“Nakikiusap din po sana ako na sana huwag din po nating akusahan yung bata dahil hindi niya po kakayanin yung pinagdaanan ko. Sana po bigyan po rin natin siya ng pang-unawa sa mga nagawa niya dahil alam ko po kung gaano kahirap yun. Muli po humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa bata dahil po sa nagawa akong pagsigaw sa kanya at sana po magkaroon din ng chance na makalimutan na po natin ito.”
He furthered: “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 kayo sanang sure na proof, huwag po kayong mag-akusa kasi napakasakit po. Iningatan ko po yung pangalan ko nang napakatagal. Kung nasaan man po ako ngayon, wala po akong dinayang tao, nanalo po ako ng mga games dahil po ginawa ko yung tama.”
To end, Robinson said that he has already forgiven those who wished him ill and hopes that this chapter is already closed, all while having his pristine reputation is still intact.
“Para po akusahan niyo ako na masamang tao, pinapatawad ko po kayo. I will always live by what we always pray at La Salle. ‘I will continue to do all my actions for the love of You. Amen,” he ended.
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