The 32-year-old cager showed why he was a former NBA lottery pick.
Fact: Thomas Robinson was supposed to suit up for the San Miguel Beermen in last year's PBA Commissioner’s Cup. But he was sent home even before playing a single game.
Fact: The Kansas Jayhawks product is now the import of the NLEX Road Warriors and he’s a beast.
Wait, there’s more!
A couple more important facts about Robinson were revealed by coach Frankie Lim and NLEX guard Kris Rosales after the Washington DC native hanged 42 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, and a W over SMB on Wednesday in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“Thomas Robinson played his heart out. Makikita mo talaga sa kanya na he didn’t want to lose this game,” Lim said after NLEX’s 117-113 overtime win at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“Kasi galing siya sa San Miguel and maybe he wanted to show them that they committed a mistake by not letting him play. That was the motivation for him, I think,” he added.
It was a great win for NLEX who previously lost to the Phoenix Fuel Masters after squandering a substantial lead, and with Robinson getting benched in the fourth quarter.
In his bounce-back game, the former fifth overall pick in the NBA was on fire. He was barking at the refs, he was barking at San Miguel's bench, and he was obviously trying to psych out June Mar Fajardo.
According to Rosales, who dropped 19 points, including the three-pointer that sent the game to OT, they have learned how to deal with Robinson's intense nature.
“We know how he is as a person. You have to take it as it is. You have to learn how to work with him and adjust to him a little bit. Talk to him and flip that emotion and use it in the game, which I think we did as a unit.”
ALSO READ: NLEX import Thomas Robinson reveals teammate who surprised him most
The reinvigorated Road Warriors will go for back-to-back wins this Saturday as they face the Terrafirma Dyip.
(PM)