One of the biggest trademarks of Aldin Ayo-coached teams is their pressing style.
From the Letran Knights, to the De La Salle Green Archers, and now the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, Ayo’s fabled ‘Mayhem’’ system has drawn praise for its uniqueness as well as negative comments for its ruggedness.
During the Growling Tigers’ loss at the hands of the National University Bulldogs, their fifth loss in the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Sorsogon native was seen incensed over the refereeing. However, he refused to dwell on it after the game.
“That’s why during the moment that it’s happening, I’m trying to do my best to convince them to make the right calls. But tapos na eh.
“Hindi na kailangan mag-comment. We just had to take it. Ganun naman eh. Kailangan mong tanggapin and whatever it is. If you want to handle this loss well, we’ll just have to accept everything,” said Ayo.
Once the game ended, though, NU center Troy Rike joined the chorus of voices that complained about UST’s level of physical play. The 6-foot-7 big man was a big part of the action inside the paint and he wasn’t impressed about some of the Growling Tigers’ supposed antics.
“I’m not gonna like it but be physical with me, the extra stuff, the little ticky-tacky grabbing, the butt, that’s like, don’t do that. I’m sorry, I know that is not the (politically correct) thing to say and I just got to be honest because I don’t like that, ’cause it is not just me. It’s other people too,” said the Wake Forest graduate.
“Like I said, physical, Filipino stye of basketball, be physical, that’s great, but the other stuff, I don’t like that.”
For his part, the 2016 UAAP Champion mentor was quick to jump to his team’s defense. “That’s unfair. Kasi kami nakaka-receive din kami ng ganyan eh. Kaya ayoko mag-recruit ng Fil-Am eh,” he said in jest. “Except for Fil-Ams na kung maglaro parang Pinoy. Kaya gusto ko mga Bisaya eh. Gusto ko mga andun sa south eh. From Manila also, yung mga ugaling Pinoy na resilient.”
Rike isn’t the first one to complain about the Growling Tigers’ physicality. A video went viral on Facebook that featured certain moments in UST’s first round clash against the Ateneo Blue Eagles which showed several scuffles and rough plays from the Thomasians.
“Upbringing din yan eh. Depende rin sa kultura yan eh.
“So halos fair naman, kami ganun din eh. You just have to toughen it up and kami, we never teach players to be rough. Everything that we’re doing is within the bounds of basketball rules, kaya I think that’s unfair,” insisted the Letran alumnus.
At the end of the day, Ayo simply wanted his players to carry on and continue their progress until the end of the season.
“We just want to compete. Wala kaming pakialam kung ilan kami or kung papasok sa Final Four or hindi. We’re taking it one game at a time. Hindi kami masyadong concerned dun sa spot.”
