Veteran mentor Topex Robinson has finally earned his first chip as a head coach and along with it came the trust and admiration of the Lasallian community. 

The 46-year-old Robinson capped his superb maiden stint in the UAAP Season 86 leading the Green Archers to their first title in seven years against University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in a historic Finals duel last week. 

Robinson, who began his coaching journey in 2011, was only the fourth La Salle mentor to give the school a championship in just one year at the helm. 

It took the ever optimistic Robinson 12 years of patience to finally catapult himself to the top of collegiate coaching. 

“These guys [Green Archers] were really giving me the courage to move forward even [when] I was pressuring myself. That first Game 1 loss was really challenging for me. It kind of asked me if I was really here or para ba talaga ako sa coaching, but every time I see these guys, it gives me the courage,” said Robinson.

The Green Archers overcame the most lopsided Game 1 loss in the league’s Final Four era, 97-67, before getting back at the Fighting Maroons with an 82-60 Game 2 victory to tie the series and force a decider. 

Before entering the finals, La Salle was even riding on a nine-game winning surge
 

“I draw my strength from them. Every time, I see them, they challenge me. They check on me if I am okay and that’s really something that’s priceless for me as a coach. You just have to be there, their coach, but to be their friend. Siguro ‘yun ang malaking bagay para sa akin.”

Robinson tried his luck in the PBA, taking over the reins at the Phoenix Fuel Masters before finding a new home in Taft earlier this year and signing a three-year contract with the school. 

But even before that, Robinson was with the Lyceum Pirates in the NCAA for four years, bringing them to back-to-back finals appearances which both ended in runner-up finishes. 

MVP Kevin Quiambao only had good things to say about Robinson, who he deemed was the one that ‘unleashed [his] potential’ this season, leading him to sweep all available individual awards in the league in his brilliant sophomore year. 

“First of all, sobrang sarap [makalaro under coach Topex],” said Quiambao. “‘Yun nga ‘yung tinatawag nilang player’s coach, na kay coach Topex na lahat. ‘Yung mga pinagdaanan ni coach Topex na hardships, knowing na galing siya sa Lyceum dalawang straight na finals natalo. Talagang dinibdib ko ‘yun. Sabi ko ‘hinding hindi pwedeng mangyari’ knowing na andiyan siya sa likod ko. Siyempre kailangan din na nasa likod niya ako. Thankful ako kay coach Topex and sa lahat ng coaching staff.”

For graduating guards Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy, having Robinson behind them during their final year was a second to none experience. 

“He made it the best year of playing for him. It was so much fun playing under him. It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows, we bicker a lot, we don’t see eye to eye a lot of times. It’s just the competitive nature in us. If you don’t have somebody behind your back taking the bullet for you, you wouldn’t understand or even comprehend how it is to play under him,” Nelle said. 

“Sobrang saya. Sobrang blessed talaga. Hindi namin ine-expect na aabot din kami dito kasi sobrang dami naming naging struggle. First round, lalo na ako. Kailan ko lang na-pick ‘yung game ko and sobrang thankful ako kay coach Topex kasi he believes in me kung anong talent meron ako. Sobrang saya na mage-exit ako sa La Salle na champion kami,” detailed Nonoy.