Ayo: Letran will make NCAA Final Four

Aldin Ayo celebrates after guiding the Letran Knights to their first NCAA title in 10 years. The Knights survived the San Beda Red Lions in a thrilling three-game finals duel in the NCAA Season 91 last year. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Aldin Ayo coached Letran for only a single season and in that one year the former Knight led Letran to one of its most inspiring runs in the NCAA.

Letran toppled arch rival San Beda’s five-year dynasty in the NCAA Season 91. Ayo, though, left Letran and joined La Salle, taking on a different challenge in the UAAP.

He may be donning the green-and-white of the Archers, but Ayo’s heart still has a soft spot for his alma mater.

Ayo believes his former players are capable of making a deep run in the NCAA Season 92, and he also let out a warning to the Knights’ competitors.

“They’re going to enter the Final Four, and those guys are going to figure out how to win,” said Ayo after his Green Archers beat the Knights, 78-70, Sunday at San Juan Arena in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.

“Pag yung mga yun nakapasok sa Final Four, kabahan sila sa mga ito, hindi magpapatalo nang ganun lang kadali tong mga ito.”

During Ayo’s time, Letran used a relentless pressure defense from the opening tip to the final buzzer, forcing the opposing teams to make mistakes.

The Knights still have that kind of approach in them and they did just that against the Green Archers, making them to commit 29 turnovers.

“Lalaban at lalaban ang mga ito,” said Ayo.

Ayo may be coaching a different team but the Letran spirit in him runs deep. He even poked fun at San Beda, which has conquered the NCAA for the past 10 years until Letran won it last season.

“Baka makuha ng San Beda, ang first runner-up,” said Ayo with a laugh. “Letran uli yan.”