After Tiebreaker Times broke the story that Aldin Ayo has left the De La Salle University to join the University of Santo Tomas, sophomore guard Aljun Melecio tweeted two tiger emojis before deleting the post some minutes later.
Many thought that the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Year has been pondering on joining Ayo and the Growling Tigers. The 18-year-old was quick to diffuse the fuzz, saying that he is staying with the Green Archers.
“I am not leaving DLSU. The tiger emojis had no meaning behind it,” Melecio tweeted.
In addition, he wished his former mentor the best of luck in his new journey saying, “I wish coach Aldin all the best, but I love La Salle and I love being a Green Archer.”
Melecio averaged 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in his second year with La Salle.
According to a team official who requested not to be named, Ayo has a history of trying to bring his former players with him to his new destination. Just last July, the one-time NCAA and one-time UAAP champion coach almost had Bong Quinto and JP Calvo transfer from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran to La Salle.
Ayo is only bringing assistant coaches McJour Luib and Miggy Solitaria to UST, as Louie Gonzales and Glenn Capacio assist La Salle in its transition period.
