From being a player to being a coach, there are few who know the ins and outs of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) better than Topex Robinson.
Robinson played for San Sebastian-Recoletos (SSC-R) during his collegiate days in the 1990s, but later returned to his alma mater as a coach. He was spent almost all of the 2010s as a head coach in the league, first with the Stags and later, with the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates.
He is currently a coaching consultant for Lyceum, while he holds a head coaching post with the Phoenix Fuel Masters in the PBA.
From his experience, this is the quality he’s been able to observe in his years in the country’s oldest collegiate league.
"If you're coming from the NC, you're always out there to prove your worth," said Robinson in Chino Trinidad's report on 24 Oras on Friday.
"May ganung hunger," Robinson added in Filipino.
This characteristic is also what Robinson looks for in his players.
And some of those players he handled as a coach have certainly more than proved their worth on the court.
Take a look at Calvin Abueva, whom Robinson coached in San Sebastian. 'The Beast' won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 2011, and is one of the most feared players in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Topex also handled CJ Perez when he was in LPU. Perez once led the Pirates to an 18-0 sweep of the elimination round to reach the finals. He also won the NCAA MVP award in 2017, and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 PBA Draft. He has now emerged as one of the best young players in the pros.
Robinson also values sharing a real bond with his players.
"In order for me to have that kind of [relationship] with the players, it has to be deep," the coach said.
He is also a staunch believer in education, and often advises his players to stay in school
"Every year, that is my introduction to my players because I don't want them to fall in the trap that the PBA's gonna be their saving grace. The lifespan there is shorter now," he said in Filipino.
Watch out for the NCAA which will be aired on different platforms of GMA Network soon. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News
