La Salle coach Topex Robinson, right, chats wicth Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin during a preseason game. Photo from Filoil
MANILA, Philippines—La Salle coach Topex Robinson relished his first rivalry game against Ateneo’s seasoned tactician Tab Baldwin in the 2023 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
The Green Archers dominated the Blue Eagles, 79-52, to stay unbeaten in eight games and clinch a quarterfinal berth in Group II on Sunday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Although Robinson stressed that their preseason rout “doesn’t define winning a championship in the UAAP,” he was thrilled to go up against Baldwin, whom he admires as a coach.
“Just like them (players) I was so excited because again I always wanted to play against Ateneo. Coach Tab is one of the guys I look up to,” said Robinson after their win. “I know that coach Tab, I will learn from him in every opportunity that I could get that I’m gonna learn from that guy. I will always suck it. That’s how much I respect him and look up to him.”
Robinson praised Baldwin for his contributions to Philippine basketball and the Kiwi-American coach’s selflessness in sharing his knowledge with others.
“I really look up to him he’s really one of the greatest minds of basketball here in the Philippines and I’m just so blessed to have an opportunity to learn from him. Whatever it is I’m doing right now he’s a part of it. I’m just learning from him and then applying,” Robinson said. “The good thing about coach Tab is he’s not selfish. If you ask him questions, he’ll gonna give you answers. I’m just taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from coach Tab.”
Robinson, however, did not put too much into his team’s blowout victory over the defending UAAP champions, who are expected to be among the favorites to win it all again in UAAP Season 86 in September.
“Just like what I said this doesn’t define us winning a championship in the UAAP. Winning here only proves that if we’re gonna keep to our guns and do what it is prepared for, good things are bound to happen. This will just be the byproduct of what we’re doing,” he said.
La Salle tries to sweep its group when it faces second-running St. Clare College of Caloocan (4-1) on Wednesday.