Student-coach Robinson nets another UAAP crown for La Salle

DE LA SALLE University’s (DLSU) author to essaying another UAAP championship wasn’t just a mere coach.

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Like all of his players juggling midterms and finals in classrooms and arenas, the man behind was a winning student-coach.Blazing a path like no other in the collegiate world filled with student-athletes, here comes a student-coach in Topex Robinson savoring another UAAP title not only with his DLSU Green Archers — but more importantly with his classmates.

And for him, the bond that extends from the roaring and gargantuan domes to the solemn, intimate four-sided classrooms in Taft was the secret as La Salle capped a sweet redemption over University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 88 finals.

“It’s really hard to juggle studying and coaching but just like our players who also sacrifice attending classes and being basketball players everyday, I also make my sacrifices,” Mr. Robinson, still in tears, told The STAR after an emotional 80-72 win in Game 3 before 24,339 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to go 2-1 in their trilogy as the country’s new rivals.

At the buzzer, the 48-year-old Mr. Robinson didn’t join the on-court celebration with the Green Archers coaching staff and players under the bright lights, thousands of fans and confettis, to let it all out just outside the locked dugout — sitting, crying, praying with his head down basked alone in emotions and fulfillment.