Converge head coach Aldin Ayo reaffirmed his full commitment to the young PBA franchise amid speculations that he’s on the way out.
The rookie mentor has become a hot topic online for the past couple of weeks after rumors regarding his exit swirled. However, he said that he’s already planning to settle down and continue building with the ball club.
“I signed a multi-year contract, and ang objective naman namin is to develop these players,” said Ayo, who joined the team last September.
“I know [iyong] history ng career ko, moving from one team to another. But I think I’ve found a team, a management na magaan eh,” added the former coach of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, and Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3. “I’m planning to settle down here and work for them.
“Kung ano ‘yung gusto nila mangyari sa team, the coaching staff will make sure na makuha namin kung anong gustong ma-achieve ng management.”
Ayo said as much on Sunday night, moments after Converge bowed out of the Governors’ Cup quarters following a 121-105 loss to 2-seed San Miguel.
It marked the third consecutive QF exit for the FiberXers, and the second under the 45-year-old bench tactician. It was, furthermore, the second straight conference that the young bunch lost to the Beermen in the playoffs.
Sunday’s loss, though, was much tougher to fathom as it sent the No. 7 team to an early vacation, although it would also mean months of work for the crew.
“One-week break, then we’re going to resume, then another week break for the Holy Week. Then after that, we’re going to resume, even though medyo matagal pa. Hindi pa namin alam ang schedule ng PBA. Pero that will be our schedule,” he said.
“Because gusto namin trabahuhin ‘yung mga locals, ‘yung developmental program namin dito sa mga players namin,” Ayo bared. “We’ll make sure na yung mga mali na nagawa namin for the past two conferences, maitama namin.
“Everything is composed of individuals so gusto namin na maayos ‘yung individuals, kasi ‘pag maayos yung individuals, magiging maayos ‘yung team.”
Sunday’s loss also ended Ayo’s first rodeo as a PBA head coach and he now has an idea of the particular improvements he hopes to see that could help the team morph into the unit that they would want it to become.
“We need more bigs. Point guard pa siguro. Priority namin bigs kasi yun ang kulang namin, especially parating na yung all-Filipino,” he said.
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