Relationships that lead to success at LaSalle University

In the midst of an intense match and an atmosphere of rivalry, Kevin Quiambao and Topex Robinson found some light-hearted moments to ease the tension.

It happened just before La Salle’s win over Ateneo late Sunday night.

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Quiambao threw a pass that led to a turnover, but Robinson pointed it out and instructed the versatile forward to take a shot instead.

“He told me [the next time] “He would shoot from a distance, so I told him, ‘Shoot,’ and he did,” Robinson said, “and later I said I was right, because he did shoot.” [in the next play] And it went in. That’s what we were joking about.”

Quiambao took another pass, then drilled a shot and sank a three-pointer to extend the lead to 36-25 and give Ateneo a 74-61 win in their UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball showdown against rival Ateneo in front of a crowd of 12,478 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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“After I made the shot, I asked my coach, ‘Are you still blaming me? I made the shot,'” Quiambao recalled. “Those moments are fun for me because there are moments in every match that you want to cherish. For a player like me, it’s important to have a relationship with a coach who lets me do what I want on the court.”

A treasure trove of skills

Wherever Robinson has coached, he has always placed emphasis on building relationships within the team and instilled the concept of unity into team culture.

It’s the same with The Archers.

“We always use the words we, our and us, and that’s really the key to this,” Robinson said.

And it’s working.

The Archers won the title last year and are currently in first place this season with a 3-0 record, and team veterans Quiambao and Mike Phillips have been integral to that early success.

In the game against Ateneo, Quiambao recorded 13 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, thriving in a system that allowed him to make the most of his vast skill set.

“The freedom to play with a free-flowing offense, our defense, everything we do, the relationship between us plays a big role.” [in being able to do that]” said Qianbao.

Robinson agrees.

“[I]”It’s really nice to have a relationship with these guys that kind of flattens the hierarchy, where I’m not the head coach but I just happen to hold that title,” added the affable mentor, a sports science major in the same class as Quiambao.