When asked about his and the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers’ upcoming showdown with Louie Gonzalez and the De La Salle University Green Archers, Aldin Ayo disclosed that he is treating the game as just a regular game. But there was a twist.
“Well, it’s just a regular game,” the decorated tactician shared after UST’s loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Saturday.
“First time ko makikita ng personal yun [Louie Gonzalez] ‘di ko pa nakikita yun. So that will be interesting.”
But for the better part of this decade, Ayo and Gonzalez were inseparable.
Ayo was once a player handled by Gonzalez back in 2001 when the latter was an assistant coach under Binky Favis in Letran.
Almost 11 years later, the two crossed paths once again in the Jr. NBA Camp that saw Ayo win the Coach of the Year plum. During that time, the troika of Ayo, Gonzalez, and Glenn Capacio became a pack.
“Ako naman since nangyari ito, I know this is just part of our job. Aldin and I are professionals. Tulad ng sinabi ko, along the way we know na mangyayari na maghihiwalay kami,” shared Gonzalez, a veteran in the industry but a rookie in the UAAP. “It happened now pero ako naman, I respect Aldin, big respect and alam ko naman na he has the same for me.
“Magkakilala kami, magkaibigan kami, actually magkumpare kami. All of this, we know, is just part of the job.”
In 2012, Ayo, Gonzalez, and Capacio were tapped by the Kia franchise as assistant coaches. Two years later, they would move to where it all began for them, Letran, with Ayo being head coach, Gonzalez being the lead assistant, and Capacio serving as consultant.
With the three steering the wheel, the Knights had a magical season as they ended the San Beda dynasty in an epic season.
In 2016, the trio tried to recreate their magic on a different playing field, moving to La Salle. Their two-year stay in Taft led to one championship and a silver finish.
But as Gonzalez said, they knew that one day, they would go on their separate ways. And it came a day after Christmas as Ayo left La Salle to join UST.
The only members from the Green Archers’ staff Ayo brought over to España were McJour Luib and Kristoff Co. Gonzalez and Capacio decided to stay behind in La Salle.
The once-brothers-in-arms are now leading two separate camps.
Exactly 281 days since Ayo left La Salle, the two will share a court once again. This time, the two will figure in a virtual chess match.
“Doon mo makikita kung paano kami as coaches. Pareho kami, alam na alam namin yung ginagawa naming bawat isa. This all boils down kung paano yung adjustments,” said Gonzalez.
“It’s gonna be a game of adjustments.”
Just like what Ayo said, Gonzalez – who knows his former ward all too well – shared the same exact quote regarding the upcoming match-up.
“It will be interesting.”
