Montalbo credits former coach Ayo for thriving UAAP career

ANTIPOLO—For the past two years, Aldin Ayo had Kib Montalbo as his trusted trooper when he was at the helm of De La Salle.

Ayo’s two-year stay with the Green Archers produced two finals appearances including a title in 2016 in the UAAP while also transforming Montalbo into one of the best defending guards in the league.

And on Saturday the two met once more but this time it was only Montalbo, who was draped in green-and-white with Ayo now coaching under the black-gold banner of University of Santo Tomas.

Montalbo’s Green Archers emerged victorious over Ayo’s Growling Tigers in a blinding 110-69 victory, but the “Man of Steal” was just simply reminded of how grateful he was for Ayo when he played  against the coach that made him to what he is.

“I was happy, I approached him during warm-ups but I didn’t get the chance to go to him at the end of the game,” said Montalbo in Filpino at Ynares Center here. “It’s because of him that I got the ‘Man of Steal’ moniker.”

Montalbo became one of the most prolific defenders the UAAP has seen in Season 80 when he registered 1.7 steals per game making him the second-best thief just behind Adamson’s Jerie Pingoy.

Ayo and Montalbo didn’t have chance to face each other in the first round of the Season 81 men’s basketball tournament with the guard sidelined due to a thumb injury.

Montalbo said that this might be the last game he’ll face Ayo in the basketball court and he just wanted to thank his former mentor for what he’s done.

“Credit goes to him because I learned a lot from him and I wish him luck in his career in UST.”