SEPTEMBER 8, 2018: UST Coach Aldin Ayo. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon
A simple opening day loss isn’t something that will easily upset University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.
Aldin Ayo, the Growling Tigers’ hardened head coach, said their 76-70 loss to National University on Saturday still served its purpose for the growth of the team.
“I told the boys that the loss will make us better,” said Ayo. “This is our first game, we still have 13 more games so we can still adjust.”
“The good thing is the guys haven’t lost spirit and we won’t be shaken by this defeat,” added Ayo in Filipino.
The major reason behind UST’s defeat to NU was the team’s terrible shooting.
UST shot the ball 90 times and made just 26 of those attempts. The Growling Tigers also had a dismal showing from beyond the arc going 5-of-34.
NU, for its part, went 32-of-75 from the field and 5-of-19 from deep.
A good thing that came out of that loose cannon shooting spree is UST’s terrific rebounding with a distinct 59-49 advantage over the Bulldogs.
Ayo said they are determined to bounce back from a disappointing debut and repay the trust and support the Thomasian community have given his team.
“We’re going to work hard, play hard for UST because the community deserves a good showing because they’ve supported us so much,” said Ayo.