Head coach: Topex Robinson
Assistant coaches: Bernie Mercado and Dino Enrile
Players:
Anthony Del Rio
Enrico Tirona
Franz Ian Delgado
Vic Manuel
Jim Bruce Viray
John Carl Melegrito
Erwin Cornejo
Raymund Ilagan
Raffy Ynion
Vincent King Importante
Maclean Sabellina
During his eight-year PBA career, Christopher “Topex” Robinson was known as a blue collar-type point guard who made the most of his talents. He wasn’t the quickest or strongest, but he was good enough to make the PBA All-Defensive team once. Now, after hanging up his playing sneakers, Robinson is embarking on a new career as a coach. On March 12, Robinson will make his coaching debut with RnW Pacific Pipes in the PBA D-League, and despite the lack of preparation, both for his team and for himself as head coach, the former point guard is hoping to make his team a reflection of his own approach to the game.
“As of now, I consider myself a rookie as far as coaching is concerned,” said Robinson. “So the challenge is pretty much okay because I know that what I have right now are pretty hardworking players. As much as possible, when I build this team, I want to get scrappy players. My trademark is just scrappy, just fighting for, you know, getting the character of the team.”
Given the short time to form the team and get his feet wet, Robinson hasn’t had much success in recent scrimmages. But he’s confident things will pick up once the tournament starts.
“So far, even though I’ve lost all of my tune-up games, I’m upbeat that I have a good team here, a good core. Expect this team to be a hustle team. Since this is a new team, I don’t want to complicate things. I have young guys, and I think my team is one of the youngest as far as experience is concerned. Most of them just came out of the collegiate leagues, so as much as possible, just keep it simple, don’t make things complicated, make it easier for a young team like what I have right now.”
A quick glance at the roster won’t reveal any big-name collegiate stars, save for Ateneo’s Ryan Buenafe, but rather a bunch of tough, hardcore players whom Robinson hopes to mold into a running unit. They’re led by Raymund Ilagan of the St. Francis Doves, former PBL MVP Vic Manuel of PSBA, former Letran Knight Kojack Melegrito, Mapua Cardinal and PBL veteran Erwin Cornejo, and ex-pro Jim Viray. It’s a small team, too, with STI’s Maclean Sabellina the only legitimate center and the tallest at 6’4”. After him there’s an array of power forwards who will have to help each other out with the rebounding chores and defending the paint. Viray, Ilagan and Manuel all stand a generous 6’3” and the onus will be on them to provide interior muscle since Sabellina is reed-thin.
“Actually, as far as ceiling is concerned, my tallest is 6’3” or 6’4”. As of now, we’re still searching for a legitimate big man, so I guess with the league about to start, knowing that big men are really hard to find, as of now I’m happy with the fours (power forwards) I have right now.”
Melegrito will be part of a guard rotation that includes San Beda’s Chico Tirona, SSC’s Anthony Del Rio, and ex-SSC Stag Franz Ian Delgado, who will anchor the running game Robinson envisions for his team.
“We know that we don’t have the size to match up against bigger teams, so I guess expect us to be running,” Robinson said. “We’ll be pressuring. I guess that’s the only advantage that we have because we don’t have the size.”
Buenafe is clearly the most impressive name on the roster, although he has yet to play in any of the team’s tune-up games and was curiously not mentioned by Robinson when asked about the team’s main guys. Another name to watch is King Importante, a former PCU junior varsity star whose collegiate career never got off the ground.(Yahoo! Southeast Asia)
0 comments:
Post a Comment