Robinson gets early Yuletide present

For Topex Robinson, there’s no better gift this Christmas season than the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball title for De La Salle University.

And it was delivered at his doorsteps a little early.

The 50-year-old Robinson said their victory in the recent UAAP finals series against University of the Philippines was truly heartwarming as it was shaped by trials and forged in adversities.

“We’re just so blessed and fortunate to have this group of guys that are really willing to support each other, but we keep going back to those challenges,” Robinson said after the Green Archers pulled off an 80-72 victory in Game 3 of the best-of-three finals series last 14 December at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But La Salle’s road to the title was littered with challenges. They were not isolated to a single game or stretch, but woven into the campaign — injuries, uneven performances, and moments when confidence flickered.

Robinson admitted that the temptation to apply quick fixes was always present, especially in a program accustomed to contention.

“When we were down earlier, we reminded everyone: What worked for us? That’s about playing for each other. It’s a constant reminder of what we went through this season,” Robinson said.

But their biggest roadblock was the injuries suffered by stars Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos right in the middle of the very competitive season.

But instead of going for quick fixes, Robinson still chose long-term care by patiently waiting for his stars to recover, which also paved the way for new heroes like Luis Pablo, Earl Abadam and Vhoris Marasigan to emerge.

“If you’re not 100 percent, you’re not ready. We don’t want to compromise a young athlete’s career just to win games. The support of our management ensures we protect these valuable players and never put them at risk,” Robinson said.

Robinson’s faith got rewarded as Amos and Baclaan were able to make quick recoveries just in time for La Salle’s Final Four campaign.

La Salle eventually regained its strength and was able to book a third trip to the finals after pulling off an upset over top seed National University.

Still, the Green Archers refused to treat the momentum as entitlement as they kept their hunger and composure entering their third straight finals battle with the Fighting Maroons.

Instead of getting complacent, Robinson consistently pulled his team back to humility, knowing that too much confidence had undone many contenders before them.

Fortunately for them, their efforts were rewarded as they beat the Fighting Maroons in a thrilling and dramatic three-game series.

“It’s the hardest (championship) to win. I think one of the big keys for this win is these guys really helped me out a lot. Yes, I might be the head coach, but I’m so fortunate to have all those (other) coaches,” Robinson said.

“They always carried for me. It’s always nice to have an environment where you can be yourself.”

Christmas magnifies vulnerability, and Robinson did not hide his. In the stillness of the season, when noise fades and meaning sharpens, Robinson’s journey offers a simple truth — that the harder the journey, the sweeter the victory.

Robinson’s present arrived right before the happiest day of the year.