Heading into the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Finals… Well, during the entire season, rumors ran rampant that Aldin Ayo would leave University of Santo Tomas.
According to those rumors, Ayo will leave UST after two years with the team to go to another UAAP school. One of the schools mentioned was National University.
Stories cited Ayo’s ‘track record’ — he left Letran after one year back in 2015, before moving out of La Salle in 2017.
But after the Growling Tigers absorbed a 79-86 Game Two loss to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, ending their season, Ayo professed his love for UST.
“I was aware of that, pero ako, I can say, mahal na mahal ko ang UST. Mahal na mahal ko ang community. ‘Yung sinasabi ko na personal growth kaya ako lumipat ng UST, I was able to achieve that,” the two-time collegiate champion coach expressed.
“I learned a lot when I transferred to UST, hindi lang sa basketball, pati sa buhay. Kung paano kami itrato ng mga pari, ng community, ng students at alumni, first time ko maka-experience ng ganyang kainit na suporta.”
For him, the only way that he will leave UST is if the school’s brass fires him. As long as that doesn’t happen, he vows to stay.
“I’ll leave that to the managers kasi I still have one more year left. Kung ano ‘yung gagawin nila na makaka-stay ako sa UST, welcome sa akin. Ang binitawan ko na commitment kila father, boss Jimi (Lim), boss David (Ong), kay Atty. (Nilo) Divina, at sa mga players, hindi ako aalis sa UST unless UST ang umalis sa akin, unless UST ang umayaw sa akin.”
