FILE–Aldin Ayo during his stint as Chooks to Go 3×3 trainer. –CHOOKS TO GO PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Nothing has been set in stone yet as far as Aldin Ayo’s appointment at Converge’s helm is concerned.
Shortly after his name surfaced as the FiberXers’ new head coach on Tuesday, Ayo said he has yet to make any “formal commitment” to the team.
“I’m surprised. Things are happening so fast. I have not made any formal commitment to Converge. This might just be like the rumored college schools coaching that did not materialize. I am preoccupied at the moment with the chemotherapy of my mother,” Ayo posted on social media.
“But I am flattered that I’m being considered as the head coach of the Converge FiberXers. This would be a big challenge and opportunity for any basketball coach, but I would like to seriously talk to my mother about it before deciding,” he added.
Ayo last week resigned from his post as Chooks To Go 3×3 head trainer, saying he had to tend to his ailing mother who was diagnosed with stage four cancer.
He, however, already “looked over” Converge’s practice on Tuesday, as per a report from Inquirer.
Converge let go of Jeffrey Cariaso as its head coach on Monday after just one conference.
Under Cariaso, the FiberXers reached the Philippine Cup quarterfinals as the seventh seed with a 5-6 record before getting eliminated by defending champion TNT.
“I would like to personally thank Coach Jeff for the competitive spirit that he has instilled in our players. His experience as a player with an illustrious career undoubtedly inspired our young team to reach the playoff stage in our very first conference at the PBA,” Converge CEO and team owner Dennis Uy said in a statement on Wednesday.
“He is a well-balanced coach wih many successful years ahead of him. I am grateful to him for his contribution in transitioning this new franchise.”
The 44-year-old Ayo will reunite with his former college players in Jeron Teng and Abu Tratter of La Salle and Kevin Racal of Letran.
Ayo won an NCAA title with Letran in 2015 before steering La Salle to a UAAP crown a year later.
He later joined University of Santo Tomas in 2018 and led the Growling Tigers to the finals a year later. In September 2020, Ayo resigned from his post after he held practices with the Tigers in Sorsogon, violating health and safety protocols at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.