UP's Torres puts 'spat' with La Salle coach behind

MANILA, Philippines -- Water under the bridge.

University of the Philippines guard Reyland Torres is moving forward from his spat with La Salle Green Archers Topex Robinson last week.

Torres and Robinson were embroiled in a controversial situation during La Salle’s 68-56 win over UP last Sunday.

The two reportedly exchanged heated words in the third quarter, and the Fighting Maroon accused Robinson of “spitting” on him, which was denied by the coach.

This resulted in the benches of the two squads getting into a heated argument.

The UAAP, on Saturday, gave the two stern warnings for what happened, and found that the spitting allegation on Robinson "could not be conclusively proven based on testimonies and available evidence."

Torres, after UP’s 83-73 win over UST on Sunday, said that he is setting the incident aside.

“Nag-focus lang ako sa team. Hinayaan ko na yun, isinantabi ko na yun. Mas mahalaga yung team namin, mas mahalaga yung bawat isa sa amin. Siguro tapos na po yun,” he told reporters.

“May goal kami as a team, so, yun na lang doon na lang kami mag-focus.”

Torres stressed that he believes that the statement of UAAP was fair.

“Okay lang naman sa akin. Yung sa akin lang, siguro pinag-isipin kasi nila talaga yun at naging patas naman sila. Sa part nila, mas mahirap talaga mag-isip. Kung ano man naging desisyon nila, thankful din ako. Isasa-Diyos na lang natin.”

He also thanked his teammates for the support of his team on what happened.

“Sinasabi nila sa akin na wala na yun, next play na, talo ay talo. Yung game na ito, dito kami nag-focus, di namin iniisip yun. 'Di ko itataya yung team namin sa incident na yun, so nag-focus na lang ako sa team.”

UP is now tied with La Salle on top of the standings with 7-1 win-loss records.

The Fighting Maroons will try to make it two in a row as they face the National University Bulldogs next Sunday.