UST head coach Aldin Ayo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Aldin Ayo is here to stay.
Ayo on Wednesday quickly squashed rumors that he is on his way out as University of Santo Tomas head coach.
“I’m not leaving UST unless it’s UST that doesn’t want me anymore,” said Ayo in Filipino after the Growling Tigers lost to Ateneo, 86-79, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball Finals Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“I was aware of that (rumors) but all I can say is I love UST so much, I love the community. The reason why I transferred to UST is because I want to achieve personal growth and I got that.”
Ayo has been with three teams in the past five years starting with a lone season with Letran where he led the Knights to the NCAA title in 2015.
From Letran, Ayo then moved to De La Salle and led the Green Archers to two finals appearances and a championship in his first year in the UAAP in 2016.
After losing to Ateneo in the 2017 finals, Ayo moved back to his Dominican roots, transferring to UST and led the rebuilding Growling Tigers to the championship round before bowing to Ateneo, which became the first UAAP team to complete a 16-0 sweep.
“I learned a lot when I transferred to UST, not just in basketball but in life,” said Ayo who studied Philosophy for college in Letran, UST’s sister school in the Dominican order.
“The way the priests treat us, the community, the students, and the alumni, that’s the first time I got that kind of support.”