It definitely isn’t just Aldin Ayo who’s the happiest with Converge’s upset of favorites San Miguel during Friday night’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Once the FiberXers head coach goes back home, he will surely be welcomed with a wide, proud smile from none other than his mother.
“I’m sure she’s very happy,” said the young mentor moments after their 106-102 stunner of the Beermen at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The SMB game, according to Ayo, has been much awaited by his mom ever since he took over the franchise’s coaching reins back in September.
“Because heto kinatatakutan niya eh, ‘yung team na ‘to,” shared the only child, who was brought in to take the spot formerly held by Jeff Cariaso.
Dreaded has been the league’s winningest franchise ever since, especially now that it has ascended back to the top of the crown-jewel conference by ruling the recent Philippine Cup after disposing of TNT from the throne in seven.
And the Beermen remain seen that way in the mid-season joust, since they are also the defending champions after winning the 2019 edition.
Then there’s Converge, a squad that is in the midst of rebuilding under Ayo. But the young crew proved that they can duke it out with the big boys.
Amidst the pressure presented by SMB in the final minutes, Quincy Miller and Maverick Ahanmisi starred in the telling 11-0 run that gave them a 106-100 lead with 45.1 seconds left, more than enough to walk away with the W.
The FiberXers not only showed nerves of steel in the endgame, but also made it known how to exploit the other team’s disadvantage — their foes paraded a new import in Devon Scott in a bid to address June Mar Fajardo’s absence.
“Pero sinasabihan niya ako, wala naman si June Mar eh,” recalled Ayo with a grin of his mom’s reminder. “She’s right.”
It would’ve been so much better for the former college bench tactician had his mom watched live, but finds satisfaction that he will always have her support.
“She was not able to watch, because she had chemotherapy today,” said Ayo as his mother is battling stage four cancer.
“It’s Friday. For sure, while she’s having chemo at St. Luke’s, she has her cellphone watching.”
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
