Whether they like it or not, the collegiate coaching careers of second-year La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo and first-year National University mentor Jamike Jarin will forever be intertwined.
Though they don’t see each other eye-to-eye most of the times, the two have developed mutual respect for one another as the years went by.
Just two years ago, Ayo and his Letran Knights were able to outlast Jarin’s San Beda Red Lions in a three-game epic to bag the NCAA Season 91 Seniors Basketball crown.
Ayo though jumpshipped to La Salle during the off-season of 2015 leaving Jarin in the NCAA. Jarin would do the same a year later after signing with the NU Bulldogs after finding redemption during the 92nd season of the NCAA.
And on Saturday afternoon, the two tacticians met again. Though La Salle came out on top 115-109, both teams had to scratch and claw their way with the two coaches trying to one up each other in a virtual chess match.
“Same system, fast paced, that’s just coach Jamike and our system,” said Ayo.
“Siguro kung titignan niyo yung mga nanonood kanina, para kang nanood ng Lawn Tennis. Talagang takbuhan.”
“Ako personally, I enjoyed the game eh,” added Jarin.
“Just seeing our kids compete with the best college team? It was magnificent!”
Beyond the goal of getting the victory, the two also shared that every time they face each other, they look forward to learning new things about each other.
“Both of us are very familiar with each other pero I have so much respect for that coach,” furthered Ayo, who won the 2016 Collegiate Coach of the Year award together with Jarin.
“Grabe yung competition! He always brings out my best.”
“Well, nakakataba ng puso. He brings out the best in me also,” added Jarin.
But even if the upcoming tilts between the Green Archers and the Bulldogs will always have them as the main storyline for the game, Jarin stressed that both him and Ayo are just pieces as the institutions they reprepsent should still be the main focus.
“Like what I’ve said before, coach Jamike is not bigger than the UAAP. Aldin Ayo is not bigger than the UAAP. We’re not bigger than La Salle, we’re not bigger than NU,” said Jarin. “Probably because we’re just two competitors who brings out the best sa mga players eh. So it’s always gonna be interesting.
“But it’s not Aldin, its not Jamike — it’s the entire UAAP.”
