Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
New University of Santo Tomas coach Aldin Ayo has introduced the members of his coaching staff that will help him steer the Growling Tigers in his six-year tenure.
As per The Varsitarian, the official publication of UST, Ayo has brought in Mcjour Luib, Kristoff Co, Bonnie Garcia, and Rene Baena as his deputies for UAAP Season 81.
LOOK: New Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo with his coaching staff. From L-R: McJour Luib, Bonnie Garcia, Ayo, Rene Bayna and Kristoffer Co. pic.twitter.com/SaCUtApAZA
— The Varsitarian (@varsitarianust) January 11, 2018
Garcia is the former head coach of Sta. Lucia in the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League while Baena was an assistant mentor for the Adamson’s junior team.
Luib and Co, meanwhile, have been a part of Ayo’s staff with the Green Archers since 2016. Luib was also a player of Ayo in Letran.
READ: Aldin Ayo signs six-year deal with UST
Ayo, who is tasked to turn around UST’s sinking basketball program, said he would give every one of his players “equal opportunity” in his program once they start practice on Friday.
“Rest assured everyone will be given equal opportunities,” said Ayo in The Varsitarian’s report. “We’re going to have the whole season for that and we’ll make it final before the UAAP starts.”
“We’re going to maximize their potentials. I’m just going to allow them to play, make sure they enjoy the game and of course we’re going to instill the work ethic that we want because this season, we’re going to be the hardest working team.”
READ: UST formally welcomes Aldin Ayo as new head coach
Ayo added he chose to sign with UST due to his friendships with some Dominican priests.
It’s also worth noting that apart from being a basketball coach and politician, Ayo holds a Philosophy degree from UST’s Dominican sister school Letran.
“I believe that I can coach here the way things should be,” said Ayo. “Second, most of the priests are my personal friends and my contemporaries in the seminary. Most of the seminarians in Sorsogon studied here [UST].”