The UAAP debut of first year De La Salle University head coach Aldin Ayo finally happened, with a result that almost everyone expected. However, the win did not come easy for the pre-season favorites, as the cagers from Taft Avenue had to scratch and claw against the defending UAAP men’s basketball champions for that first win.
In the highly-anticipated game, the Green Archers needed the heroics of Jeron Teng to overcome the grit and determination of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
“A win is a win but it was a hard-fought game. Kalawang eh,” the 38-year-old mentor shared about the Archers, who committed 27 turnovers in the game. “This was our first game, and we hadn’t played for almost three weeks. Ang last namin na tune-up, yung hindi natuloy eh.”
“So may rust factor and [kulang sa] decision-making, especially on our defense and especially in the end-game.”
Ayo admitted that he was in awe of the big game atmosphere the UAAP has compared to the NCAA. The crowds are larger and the decibel level inside the arena is at a high volume every game.
“It’s different. I watched the first game in Araneta and for me every game parang championship dito compared sa NC. Lots of expectations, lots of hype,” the NCAA champion coach said.
“But it’s still basketball.”
Even with the high expectations he and his team have for this season, the Letranite believes that the journey from now until December won’t be as easy as everyone thinks, with their game against the FEU Tamaraws serving as the microcosm.
“In-eexpect namin na ganito eh. I’ve been telling the guys na it’s not going to be easy,” he said.
“You’re going to adjust. They’re going to break our press. They’ll try their best to figure out kung paano ba basagin ang depensa namin. We have to work on that.”
