Letran coach Aldin Ayo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Aldin Ayo got teased a lot about how he might end up in the spotlight again, this time in the UAAP. But the former Letran coach, who will handle the La Salle reins next season, refuses to look that far ahead.
“Ateneo and FEU are strong [next season],” said Ayo, who jumped to La Salle just a month after steering the Knights to their first NCAA crown in 10 years. “All the teams are actually strong. Every time I go into competition, I don’t under estimate any team.”
Ayo shared the limelight with FEU coach Nash Racela as the two won the top coaching honors for 2015 during the Collegiate Basketball Awards Tuesday night at Saisaki-Kamayan Edsa.
Smart Player of the Year Mac Belo of FEU also led the players honored in the recognition dinner that celebrated the feats of the Tamaraws and the Knights.
Ayo admitted that he felt nostalgic seeing his former Letran players again.
“We had a good relationship, so seeing them now, I miss them,” said Ayo, who has already held 22 practices with La Salle. “But life goes on.”
Belo—the UAAP Finals MVP who played out his final year with the Tamaraws—led the Collegiate Mythical Five members that include Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena, Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme, University of Santo Tomas’ Kevin Ferrer and Perpetual Help’s Scottie Thompson.
Other awardees were FEU’s Roger Pogoy and Letran’s Kevin Racal (Pivotal Players), San Beda’s Baser Amer, Letran’s Mark Cruz and FEU’s Mike Tolomia (Super Seniors), San Beda’s Art dela Cruz and UST’s Ed Daquioag (Impact Players), Arellano’s Jiovanni Jalalon (Accel Court General), La Salle’s Jeron Teng (Gatorade Energy Player) and coach Aric del Rosario (Lifetime Achievement).