ANTIPOLO — After the post-game press conference, University of Santo Tomas coach Aldin Ayo was deep in discussion with the Collegiate Press Corps regarding the permutations of his team’s post-season future in the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The situation was symbolic of the change of winds that blew in when the Letran College alumnus took charge of the ailing program back in 2018.
Beforehand, the Growling Tigers program endured painful campaigns in Seasons 79 and 80. Things spiraled so far down in the latter season that only one UST fan watched the team near the end of that year’s second round.
“That’s an accomplishment already because last season, we only won five games and [now] we have a chance of making it to the Final Four,” said Ayo after his team’s 80-74 victory over Adamson, their eighth of the campaign, Saturday.
“This is a long-term program and may progress eh, so you have to be grateful for that.”
If last season’s UST was reliant on its then-hotshot neophyte CJ Cansino, then this year Ayo has plenty of weapons to choose from, with the likes of Mark Nonoy, Rhenz Abando, and Soulemane Chabiyo at his disposal.
But while they have caught fire this season, the two-time collegiate champion still wants them to work hard and stay humble.
“We have the players.
“They are good players but they are still young. If you can see, (Mark Nonoy) had eight turnovers, so those are the things we are going to work on this season and for next season. And of course, the rest of the guys also, Rhenz, Chabi, and the rest of the rookies. Hopefully, matuto sila ngayon season,” said Ayo.
The saying ‘trust the process’ has become a popular statement in the world of basketball. With eight wins under their belt at the end of their elimination round stint, it is easy to forget the roadblocks they encountered along the way.
Still, those setbacks merely helped the team grow into what it is today.
“Yung talo namin against Adamson nung first round, natuto kami dun kasi heartbreaking loss eh. Lamang kami all the way and dun sa last seconds, doon kami natalo. And our losses against La Salle kasi madami kaming lapses dun. Hindi kami naglaro nang maayos. Those are the games kung saan natuto kami,” the native of Sorsogon reflected.
Now that their elimination round campaign has ended, the Growling Tigers await their competitors’ results to know who they face next.
Come what may, Ayo is just happy that he and his fellow coaches have the opportunity to bring the pride back in UST.
“We are just grateful for being here, for being given this big responsibility to handle this team, and I’m just grateful. And I would like to thank the community sa trust na binibigay nila sa team namin.”
