Tricia Robredo's courtside reporting stint is for her dad

MANILA, Philippines - Unknown to many, the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo was very passionate on basketball, her wife Leni said.

That's why when the esteemed official met his untimely death, one of their daughters embraced the sport --as a courtside reporter-- to make a connection to his dad.

Tricia Robredo, Jesse's second daughter, is this year's UAAP courtside reporter for National University. Her mom Leni believes that among her three daughters, Tricia was the most affected by their father's death.

"Silang dalawa talaga ang parating magkasama kasi silang dalawa yung nandito sa Manila," Leni told Philstar.com. "The last father-daughter date that they had was an Ateneo-La Salle game."

Tricia is currently studying in Ateneo while her father was a La Salle graduate.

Leni said Tricia did not inform the family that she applied for the courtside reporting job. They only knew of it when she was already accepted.

"It really came as a shock for us," Leni said, noting that among her three children, Tricia was the "most introvert and shy" and the "most unfamiliar with basketball."

"I think she did it (courtside reporting) because it makes her feel connected to her dad," Leni said. "She knows that it will make her papa proud of her."

"Parang sa kanya, basketball represents so much of his father."