Ayo rues La Salle defense in loss to UP

La Salle coach Aldin Ayo. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo was adamant that University of the Philippines didn’t do anything special in their game on Saturday in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.

Ayo cited his team’s inability to defend UP’s shooters and cutters that led to the Green Archers’ stunning 98-87 loss to the Fighting Maroons.

UP tied the league record for most 3-pointers made with 16 set by University of Santo Tomas in 2010, while also scoring on 11 uncontested shots.

“Those 3-pointers wouldn’t have happened had we played proper defense,” said Ayo at Mall of Asia Arena. “Our big men didn’t help our little guys and the little guys just stood there. UP didn’t do anything exceptional.”

Ayo said it was his scouting report on UP when they last played in the Kadayawan Cup during the offseason in Davao.

And Ayo knew UP guard Paul Desiderio, who had a career-high 30 points, is capable of scoring in bunches.

“Desiderio already did that to us back in Davao so we prepared ourselves for that but the players didn’t respond,” said Ayo. “UP just did the things it usually does but the thing was we didn’t execute our game plan.”

“Maybe they’re fatigued because this is our third game in a week and with the system we have on both ends of the floor where we always push the tempo and keep running I think the kids just lost gas.”