Months after leading the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights to its first NCAA Championship in ten years and a day after the De La Salle University formally accepted the resignation of former Green Archer head coach Juno Sauler, Aldin Ayo’s chaotic brand of basketball will now be under the busy streets of Taft.
Late Wednesday afternoon, reports surfaced that De La Salle University men’s basketball team booster Eduardo Cojoangco Jr., together with La Salle officials, met with Ayo at a hotel in Esperanza Street, Makati City. A source who closely monitored the situation said that the two parties have agreed with the terms presented and the NCAA Champion coach is set to be appointed as La Salle head coach. The announcement is set to made later this week according to school officials.
It is an ironic twist to the once fabled rivalry between the Green and White and the Blue and Red.
Ayo took over the Letran Knights’ head coaching position December, 2014. The Sorsogon-province native proved to be the right pick for the job as the Letran Knights stormed the league with an 8-1 record to start their NCAA campaign. After a turbulent second round that saw the team drop to the second seed, the Letran Knights were able to best the Mapua Cardinals in the semifinals and best the defending champions, San Beda Red Lions, in three epic games.
Coach Aldin Ayo’s brand of basketball involves constant ball pressure and high-octane offense that will surely fit with the current La Salle roster. However, this situation leaves Letran College in the dark.
What will happen to the Letran basketball program as Ayo is the basketball program director of the Muralla-based institution? It is said that basketball team consultant Glenn Capacio is the leading candidate to take over as head coach pending negotiations according to another source.
