Here's what we know so far about the DLSU Green Archers-UP Fighting Maroons alleged spitting incident
The De La Salle University (DLSU) and the University of the Philippines (UP) men's basketball teams caught controversy after the former's head coach allegedly spat on the latter's player, prompting a verbal exchange between their coaching staff members during the UAAP Season 87's first round on Oct. 6.
But in an interview with sports outlet Tiebreaker Times, DLSU Green Archers head coach Michael "Topex" Robinson denied spitting on the left shoulder of UP Fighting Maroons guard Reyland Torres.
Robinson, however, acknowledged that he and Torres had a tension.
"Yes, me and Torres exchanged a few words, but I did not spit at him,” Robinson is quoted as saying. He said he responded to Torres, whom he accused of hurling profanity at his team.
Torres had a different recollection of the incident.
In a post-game press conference, where Robinson was absent, Torres recalled the coach allegedly spitting on him as he passed by the Green Archers' bench with about three minutes left during the third quarter.
“Dumaan lang kasi ako sa harap ni Coach Topex, hindi ko naman alam bakit niya ako dinuraan," Torres said. "Kita naman ng referee na tinuturo ko na merong pruweba na may dura."
The UP basketball player pointed out that Robinson was the only person nearby.
"Sino lang ba nandoon? Kahit tingnan mo sa video, walang nakatayo na ibang coach," the player said.
Amid the spitting claim, the Archers and the Maroons' coaching staff, led by assistant coach Gian Nazario and Tom Chua, respectively, had a verbal exchange on the basketball court until referees intervened.
Ultimately, the DLSU Green Archers defeated the UP Fighting Maroons, 68 to 56.
Coaches weigh in
In the press conference, Nazario said he was surprised that everybody was pointing at each other and was already standing. Because of that, he jokingly said that he joined them.
"Tumayo na rin ako, nakituro na lang ako,” he said. “But kidding aside, siyempre, emotions were really high at that point."
"I don’t really know honestly what transpired, I’m just there to protect my coaches as well," he added.
Maroons' head coach Goldwin Monteverde, meanwhile, didn't directly address the alleged act of spitting, though said what happened had nothing to do with basketball anymore.
"Whatever 'yung mainit na nangyari, hindi naman tungkol sa basketball,” Monteverde said. “Kung basketball lang, being competitive, siyempre, both sides will give their best. Pero siyempre, pangit kasi may mga ibang bagay na ginagawa sa loob na... walang kaugnayan sa laro."
"On our part, 'yung mga player magrereact din, in a way, and even 'yung bench," he added.
Spitting 'almost criminal,' 'the ultimate insult'
Atty. Gaby Concepcion of the UP College of Law, in a Facebook post early Oct. 7, recalled seeing Torres from a "few meters away" as he was "furiously trying to tell the coaches, the referees, and his co-players something while frantically pointing behind his shoulder."
"And there it was. Spit. The frothy, bubbly, unmistakable kind. Kadiri. Definitely not sweat," Concepcion said.
She recalled Torres "wiping it off on the tarp hanging in front of the players' bench."
The lawyer noted that in a post-COVID world, spitting at someone just seems almost criminal. She added that it's disgusting and unsportsmanlike, especially for a non-player.
In another Facebook post hours later, Concepcion said the act of spitting is "universally considered as the ultimate insult," as it "reduces the victim to an object—not worthy of respect."
"And the disgust factor of it all is simply unthinkable," she said. "It's like someone urinating on you to add ignominy to the humiliation."
"I can't even imagine spitting on the floor," Concepcion added, "much less another human."
On X, one user speculated that Robinson may not have intentionally spat on Torres.
"Likeliest scenario is Topex and Torres were talking s**t to one another, Topex got heated and spit accidentally ended up flying out," one user said.