La Salle-bound Nonoy, Cuajao bid goodbye to UST

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Citing uncertainty and with a heavy heart, Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy has bid farewell to University of Santo Tomas in a lengthy post on Instagram Monday.

Another guard in Deo Cuajao has also confirmed his UST exit on social media.

“Napakabigat man para sa loob ko, kinakailangan ko ng katiyakan sa aking career para makapagfocus ulit sa basketball. Dahil ilang weeks na akong binabagabag ng kung ano ang kahihinatnan ng atin team,” Nonoy wrote.

Cuajao, who is represented by the same agent as Nonoy, also cited similar reasons for his departure.

The two guards have reportedly transferred to La Salle.

Nonoy and Cuajao are the latest to bolt UST after CJ Cansino, Rhenz Abando, Brent Paraiso, Ira Bataller and Jun Asuncion as the school faces possible suspension from the UAAP over the Sorsogon bubble fiasco.

Cansino, the former captain who was the first to leave the Tigers, is now with University of the Philippines while Abando, Paraiso and Bataller have committed to Letran.

Nonoy and Cuajao made sure to thank the UST community and pay homage to their former coach Aldin Ayo.

“Unang-una po sa lahat, nagpapasalamat po ako ng buong puso sa buong UST community, na binigyan nyo po ako ng opportunity na ipakita po kung anong galing meron ako and I’m very thankful sa lahat ng coaching staff lalong-lalo na po sa kay coach Aldin Ayo na nagtiwalang kumuha sakin mula sa province to manila at nagbigay sakin ng kumpiyansa pag dating sa court at sa pag guide nya sa akin kahit off the court upang maging mabuting tao,” Nonoy said.

“Ilang araw na hindi ako makatulog kasi napamahal na ang team sakin lalo na si coach Aldin na nagbigay sakin ng break at kumpyansa. Ang tanging hangad ko lang ay maglaro ng basketball kaya ang hirap talaga mag decide. Habambuhay kong tatanawin ang utang na loob na ito,” said Cuajao, who also referred to Ayo as his “second father.”

Ayo stepped down from his post two weeks ago and was later banned indefinitely by the UAAP for his involvement in the training camp.

Ayo, a champion coach in the NCAA and UAAP with Letran and La Salle, respectively, steered the Tigers to the UAAP finals last year.