Mapua Red Robins sport new hairstyle, coach explains why

Published February 25, 2024 10:23pm

Updated February 25, 2024 10:23pm

The Mapua Red Robins were sporting a new hairstyle as they played their game against the Perpetual Junior Altas on Sunday.

The players had their heads shaved, which according to head coach Yong Garcia was part of the Red Robins’ history.

“Noong early ’90s, ‘yung Red Robins, laging kalbo nung time nina Mark Telan, Estong Ballesteros, Jerome Ejercito, Ogie Gumatay nung kay Coach Horacio Lim,” Garcia told GMA News Online.

“Noong nagkita kami ni Coach Horacio, [sabi] gawin mo ulit ‘yung ginagawa ng Red Robins. Sinabi ko sa players na ganito ginagawa nila noong early ’90s, subukan natin.”

(During the early ’90s, the Red Robins always had their heads shaved. Those players like Mark Telan, Estong Ballesteros, Jerome Ejercito, Ogie Gumatay under Coach Horacio Lim. When Coach Horacio and I met, he told me to do it as well. I told my players that the previous batches 

While the idea was not welcomed at first by other players, the Red Robins eventually agreed to have it, but on one condition.

“Noong napagkasunduan nila na ‘pag natalo kami, magpapakalbo kaming lahat. Noong natalo kami sa Letran, may isang salita sila,” said Garcia.

(We decided that when we lose, we will have our heads shaved. When we lost to Letran, they stayed true to their word.)

Mapua had their first loss in the tournament against Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Friday, 86-69.

For Boboy Mangubat, sporting the new haircut is just one of the ways he is sticking to the team and the system. 

“Ok lang kasi susunod lang tayo sa coaches,” he said.

(It’s okay since we just follow the coaches.)

In the end, the Red Robins bounced back and defeated Perpetual, 72-71.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News