PORMAL na ipinakilala si Topex Robinson bilang bagong men’s basketball coach ng La Salle kahapon sa Razon Sports Complex sa loob ng Taft campus.
Minana ang Green Archers squad na bigong makapasok sa Final Four sa tatlo sa huling apat na seasons, ang 48-year old na Robinson ay handa sa hamon.
“I’m so grateful and honored to be in this situation. I myself growing up was a fan of La Salle basketball. Never have I imagined that this dream will come into fruition. It’s an an honor and a privilege,” sabi ni Robinson.
“I played and coached against La Salle, being a part of La Salle is a dream come true for me,” dagdag pa niya.
Si Robinson ay magbabalik sa collegiate ranks makaraang gugulin ang huling dalawang taon sa Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) sa Phoenix Super LPG.
Makaraang magretiro bilang player noong 2011, hinawakan ni Robinson ang San Sebastian at Lyceum of the Philippines University sa NCAA.
Ginabayan ni Robinson ang Pirates sa back-to-back runner-up finishes noong 2017 at 2018 bago nagkasya sa third place noong 2019.
Sa NCAA, si Robinson, hinawakan ang mga tulad nina Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang, CJ Perez, at MJ Ayaay, ay nakalikom ng 98-68 record.
Plano ni Robinson na ibalik ang Green Archers bilang isa sa elite UAAP teams.
“First, I’m a now-thinker, I don’t look at what the past was and whatever it was. I’m more focused on what I have control of and that’s now. I don’t ever have control of the future so what I have control of is how I’m going to make this players that I serve be in a position to succeed,” ani Robinson, na pinalitan si Derrick Pumaren, na ginabayan ang La Salle sa Final Four appearance sa UAAP Season 84 subalit bigong makaabot sa semis sa Season 85.
Dadalhin ni Robinson ang kanyang ‘Love, Serve, and Care’ mantra sa Archers.
“Obviously, looking at the lineup and studying it, looking at the competition and where we are right now at this very moment, and where we are going to be headed with the personnel, that’s the first line of order for me looking forward for me,” ayon pa kay Robinson.
“Right now, it’s something that has to be done not just by me but everybody is going to be involved in this team. So, obviously connection is important, playing to the right tune, playing to the right beat, and it’s an investment. It’s not automatic and it’s not going to be all of a sudden that all of the schools are connected. It’s going to take a process and it can’t be handled by just one person. I guess being a united front is important in this endeavor,” dagdag pa niya.
