Ayo says large lineup in UST rout not meant as insult

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Criticisms won’t deter De La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo from doing his job.

In the Green Archers’ 99-56 destruction of University of Santo Tomas, Ayo fielded his largest lineup imaginable when he put in Ben Mbala, Abu Tratter, Jason Perkins, Mark Dyke, and Julian Sargent.

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This resulted to criticisms from spectators saying Ayo went for overkill since La Salle held a sizeable lead over the Growling Tigers in the fourth quarter.

“I think I was criticized last game,” said Ayo Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum after handing University of the East a 29-point blowout, 95-66. “I was doing my job, kung anuman decision ko dun, wala akong iniinsulto doon.”

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“Trabaho lang ako, make sure na yung team ko may bagong ginagawa and make sure may na achieve kami.”

Ayo usually employs a small-ball lineup with Mbala and Jeron Teng as his inside threats and surrounding the two with guards.

“We can go big, and we can go small,” said Ayo. “Gusto ko lang manalo, whatever it takes, kung pwede ko gawin puro point guard, puro centro.”