La Salle embraced title pressure, says Ayo

La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo celebrates the UAAP Season 79 championship. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Celebration rang inside the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum as confetti rained down on the jubilant Green Archers from De La Salle University.

Players had their separate friends and family embracing them, each with their own championship shirt.

Just before the eruption of euphoria exploded, however, Aldin Ayo made a quick exit; he headed down the corridor that separated the playing court to the backstage.

READ: La Salle sweeps Ateneo to capture UAAP Season 79 crown 

La Salle’s head coach had his head down, acknowledged no one, and immediately embraced the huge wooden crucifix, the same way he did when he won his NCAA basketball title with Colegio De San Juan de Letran.

It’s the culmination of arguably the most infamous coaching raid in collegiate sports history, Ayo had to lead the Green Archers to a title a year after he led the Knights to an inspiring championship run in the NCAA.

“Each championship is unique but I can say this is more difficult because of the pressure,” said Ayo after beating Ateneo 79-72 in Game 2 of the UAAP basketball finals.

READ:Big adjustments yield championship for Teng, Archers

Ayo led the most talented team in UAAP Season 79 with Ben Mbala, who waited three years to play, joining Jeron Teng, Abu Tratter, Andrei Caracut, Kib Montalbo, Prince Rivero, and rookie Aljun Melecio.

It was championship or bust for Ayo and his team, but that pressure was something the architect of the “Mayhem” defense wanted.

But the stakes got higher in the finals and teir 13-1 record was put to test against a pesky and youthful Ateneo side.

“We embraced the pressure all season long, then we got to the Finals against Ateneo the more the pressure got heavier because of the hype due to the rivalry,” said Ayo. “Bottomline, it’s basketball, whatever they have, and whatever we have it will show on the court.”