La Salle, UP get heated during the third quarter of the Green Archers’ 68-56 win over the Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle coach Topex Robinson and University of the Philippines guard Reyland Torres are set to be summoned by the UAAP over the alleged in-game spitting incident during the two team’s heated encounter on Sunday.
Sources bared to Inquirer Sports that a subcommittee of the league’s board of managing directors in coordination with the commissioner’s office is already in the last stages of the investigation.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
The verdict will be released in the coming days after getting the side of both parties through a meeting and written statement.
Inquirer Sports sought Robinson for comment about the incident but he has yet to respond as of posting time.
Robinson also begged off in the post-game interview following the Green Archers’ 68-56 victory that wrapped up the first round of UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena with assistant coach Gian Nazario speaking on his behalf.
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“Emotions were really high at that point. I don’t really know honestly what transpired. I’m just there to protect my coaches as well. So when everyone was standing up, I wanted to stand up, I wanted to be united with them,” said Nazario.
“Again, emotions. We were all carried away. And I think it was pacified well, hopefully. So yeah, it’s part of the game.”
UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, whose squad absorbed its first loss of the season, spoke on the matter but refused to reveal what exactly happened. Monteverde, however, insisted the commotion in the third quarter did not stem from a basketball-related play.
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“Whatever happened, it wasn’t about basketball, and that’s what’s important. If it were just about basketball, being competitive, both sides would give their best. But it’s bad when things are being done that have nothing to do with the game,” said Monteverde, who was really angry during the heated exchange. “That’s the point. On our part, the players will react, and even the bench.”