UST eyes PBA D-League stint ahead of UAAP

UST coach Aldin Ayo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Aldin Ayo is pulling out all the stops in turning University of Santo Tomas into the juggernaut it once was in the UAAP.

UST is the second-winningest school in UAAP men’s basketball with 18 championships behind Far Eastern University, which has 20.

The Growling Tigers’ new head coach, who replaced Boy Dela Cruz at the end of the miserable one-win Season 80, said he would field his team in the upcoming PBA D-League Foundation Cup in preparation for the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

Ayo said they have yet to formalize a partnership with a company in the D-League but the lineup that would play would be the same team he’s going to have in the upcoming UAAP season.

“This will be played with the UAAP team, the regulars,” said Ayo in Filipino. “In a span of four months, from May to August, the goal is to play 40 games so we have the Filoil, tune-up games, the UCBL (Universities and Colleges Basketball League).”

UST played in the D-League in the opening conference with then head coach Pido Jarencio and his team partnering with Max Bond Super Glue where they reached the semifinals of the Foundation Cup.

Blackwater then, partnered with UST in another conference with Leo Isaac coaching the team.

It was also normal for some Growling Tigers to suit up for other teams despite UST not having a formal presence in PBA’s developmental with the likes of Kevin Ferrer, Ed Daquioag, Aljon Mariano, Robert Hainga, Embons Bonleon, and Renzo Subido suiting up for different teams.

Ayo added the team is also hoping to play in pocket tournaments in China and Indonesia before the summer break ends.