After a stinging loss to University of the Philippines, La Salle coach Topex Robinson has vowed to find a way to bounce back.
By ANGELO JACINTO
HAVING been in a similar situation before, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson understands that it's a position he cannot remain in if he aims to craft a different outcome for his latest team.
The soft-spoken mentor saw his team get clobbered by the mighty University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 97-67, in Game One of the UAAP Season 86 Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
READ UP Maroons whip La Salle by 30 points in Game One mismatch
Robinson experienced near-collegiate triumph twice, only to witness his talented and motivating team falter in the opening game, leading to two championship defeats during his coaching tenure with Lyceum in the NCAA Seasons 93 and 94.
But for Robinson, it’s something that he’s trying not to focus on this time.
“It’s a different environment, this is a different [league],” Robinson said. “I don’t want to get stuck in that and I don’t want to be judged by my past. Now, I’m looking forward to what I’m gonna do in the future.”
A championship remains a promising prospect in Robinson's future, and the journey begins with unraveling the strengths and nuances of the Fighting Maroons, a team that exhibited minimal weaknesses, if any, in their initial encounter of the three-game series.
The Green Archers got beaten in every aspect of the game, getting mauled on the boards while being forced to 18 turnovers by a fired-up Maroon side which is now edging closer to securing its second UAAP title in three seasons.
Topex searches for answers
It didn’t help that the Green Archers’ outside shooting deserted them, making just two of 23 attempts from downtown.
Recovering from this defeat is undeniably easier said than done, but Robinson pledges to take the lead for the Green Archers, actively seeking solutions against the formidable UP squad and shouldering the responsibility, even if things don't go as planned.
“As the leader of this team, I have to figure out a way to get this victory. There are so many things, but I have to take ownership of this team, if I’m the one to be in front then so be it,” he said.
“There’s no way that I will look for excuses, I just have to try and put this team in a situation where they’re gonna succeed.”
It all starts with responding to the physicality that the UP side has shown in this game, according to Robinson.
“We didn’t get the memo that this is gonna be, you know, as far physically of the game is. We have to be ready that it’s gonna be the same,” he said.
“At this point, as much as we want to complain about some things, we have to focus on ourselves. There’s no time for us to cry over spilled milk.”
Ultimately, the three-game series format provides an opportunity for a fresh start. Although a 30-point loss in the opening game is far from ideal, Robinson remains optimistic about a rejuvenated and more spirited Green Archers squad in the upcoming game next Sunday.
“Obviously it hurt everybody. We have to go through this. Winning a championship is not gonna be easy. I guess taking the easy route will give us this kind of result. We have to go back in trying to figure out how we’re gonna get our guys in a better place to succeed,” he said.
“Like what I said, it’s done and over with. It really tastes sour. There’s gonna be a lot of ‘great minds’ telling us what to do, but at the end of the day, we have to stick as a group. We’re gonna win together and lose together.”
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