Nonoy, Cuajao staying put at UST for now, says agent

FILE – Mark Nonoy. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Mark Nonoy and Deo Cuajao are staying put at University of Santo Tomas, at least for now.

Team Phenom Sports president Jax Chua, who handles the careers of the two guards, said in a statement that Nonoy and Cuajao remain loyal to beleaguered head coach Aldin Ayo.

“Mark, ever since high school, was already with coach Aldin because it was coach Aldin himself who recruited Mark to play for UST High School,” said Chua in Filipino Sunday. “Deo, meanwhile, was recruited two weeks before the season started.”

Chua’s comments came on the heels of reports that Nonoy and Cuajao have transferred to La Salle.

Ayo has resigned from his post and is under an indefinite ban imposed by the UAAP Board following the findings on the Sorsogon bubble that saw the Growling Tigers training in the head coach’s home province amid lockdown protocols due to COVID-19.

The NCAA and UAAP champion coach, however, appealed to have a lighter punishment and it’s in this motion that the future of Nonoy and Cuajao hangs.

Chua said that they’re still waiting if UST will endorse Ayo’s appeal to the UAAP.

“We’re still waiting if UST will endorse coach Aldin’s appeal,” said Chua. “This is a difficult time for them (Nonoy and Cuajao) because of their loyalty to coach Aldin and they really want to stay at UST.”

Without Ayo at UST, Nonoy and Cuajao are waiting patiently if they should transfer or not since the enrollment period for UAAP schools are coming to a close.

The Growling Tigers have thinned out following the fallout of the Sorsogon Bubble with their former skipper CJ Cansino transferring to University of the Philippines while Rhenz Abando, Brent Paraiso, and Ira Bataller joining UST’s Dominican sister school Colegio de San Juan de Letran.