UST Growling Tigers. Photo by Aldin Ayo’s Twitter account
Though the Holy Week is usually a time to take a breather, new University of Santo Tomas coach Aldin Ayo is taking a different route for the Growling Tigers.
The champion coach opted to bring his rebuilding Growling Tigers home with him in Sorsogon in preparation for the upcoming collegiate season.
“We haven’t been together in practice since most of our recruits are coming from high school,” he shared. “With the preseason tournaments coming up, we needed a team building session. That is why the team will stay in our house in Sorsogon during Holy Week.”
Marvin Lee, Renzo Subido, Jordan Sta. Ana, and Steve Akomo, holdovers from Season 80’s disastrous 1-13 run under coach Boy Sablan, are among those will be getting a breath of fresh air in Ayo’s hometown.
Ayo’s bluechip recruits, namely UAAP Juniors MVP CJ Cansino of UST High School, Mike Enriquez and Sherwin Concepcion of Mapua, Joshua Marcos of La Salle Green Hills, Toby Agustin and Kobe Caballero of JRU, will also in the 10-day team building.
“We would like to thank the parents of the players for allowing us to borrow them,” said Ayo. “We have lots of plans for them in those 10 days. There will be conditioning sessions and we’ll have time to go around on the tourist spots, on top of our spiritual obligations for the Holy Week.”
UST is set to join various preseason tournaments this summer, including the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup.