Despite failed UAAP Final 4 bid, UST program still on track says Ayo

It’s the end of the race for Aldin Ayo and University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

The Growling Tigers lost their chance at the Final Four after a disappointing 83-69 loss to University of the Philippines that put their record at 5-8 for sixth place.

Ayo and the rest of the Tigers, however, aren’t the ones to stop after such a setback.

READ: UAAP: UP exploits Cansino’s absence, eliminates UST from Final 4 race

The former UAAP and NCAA champion said he’d start preparing UST’s Team B and get his hands in a consultancy position with the Tiger Cubs.

“I’m actually training the Team B and they’re already excited to play,” said Ayo Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “Just like yesterday I attended the practice of the under-15 team so everything’s on the right track.”

“I’m overseeing everything for the grassroots to the seniors, so we’re still doing our job despite this loss. We want to correct the whole program.”

Ayo added that his assistant coach Bonnie Garcia would be the head coach of the Tiger Cubs once the juniors’ tournament starts on Sunday.

And even though he’s just a consultant, Ayo said he’ll be attending the Tiger Cubs’ games and even sit at the bench from time to time.

“While handling the seniors, I’ll also visit the juniors as a consultant because I miss teaching those under-15, under-12 kids because that’s where I started,” said Ayo who had a basketball camp in his home province of Sorsogon. “I started teaching kids.”

“We’re employing one system, one program, but coach Bonnie will still call the shots I’m just there to oversee things.”