IT won’t just be the love for basketball that La Salle head coach Topex Robinson and Kevin Quiambao will share from here on out.
Both of them are now fathers, too.
READ: Kevin Quiambao adds doting dad to his sparkling resume
Robinson, a father of three, has had a frontrow seat to how the UAAP’s reigning and defending MVP at 23 years old strives to be the best player and teammate for the Green Archers on the court.
And in the champion mentor’s words, best believe KQ already has what it takes to be the best dad to his baby boy and husband to his partner Faye off the court.
“‘Yung determination niya and focus niya to what’s important sa kanya, ‘yun ‘yung sometimes people don’t see, but he’s really locked in. After ng games, aalis na siya, attend to his girlfriend, ta’s bukas na kami ulit,” Robinson shared with SPIN.ph.
“Sabi ko nga, if he needs more time to be with the family, I’ll be ok kasi alam ko naman na he knows what to do. You don’t have to coach him, actually. You just have to be with him in these kinds of times because he knows how to take care of himself. ‘Yung responsibility niya sa team is always gonna be there. That’s a priority for him.”
KQ’s biggest balancing act yet
Being a student, athlete, and father all at the same time should be a triple treat for KQ.
While doubts may be cast on Quiambao’s focus and commitment to La Salle’s ongoing title defense, there’s none of that whatsoever for Robinson.
It was a matter of the team’s openness with each other even before the season started which paved the way for all fears to be allayed.
“No, definitely not (concerned). Everything is clear. When we started Season 87, everything was laid down, all the possibilities kasi may Gilas pa for him. Everybody knows it. Walang sikreto na ganito, ganyan. That’s how we really operate," he said.
Robinson added: “Everybody knows what’s going on with our personal lives, with our basketball lives, with our student lives. I guess that’s the openness that’s really in this team.”
Prelude to the real world
Robinson also knows what it means to juggle three major responsibilities at once as a coach, a father, and a La Salle student as well.
Hence, when it comes to managing time and priorities, the Green Archers mentor had just the right words to offer to KQ and the rest of the team.
Life in college hoops isn’t forever and so is their time as Lasallians, making it ever-so important for them to grasp the realities that await once time comes that they’ll have to step away from Taft Ave.
“I always tell them that whatever it is that you guys are going through right now is gonna be ten times harder once you leave this program. Right now, you’re nurtured to the top level. What I want to tell them is whether you like it or not, those days are numbered,” said Robinson.
“I want them to be prepared with their lives after DLSU, that’s why we put so much emphasis on our studies, pati ako. There’s no guarantee eh. Being a player is not a guaranteed career. Being a coach is not a guaranteed career."
“What’s guaranteed is if we get a degree here, it pretty much gives us a bigger opportunity outside of basketball.”
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.
