Who could ever forget the tale of the 2015 Letran Knights? Definitely not the protagonists of that epic saga.
After the De La Salle University’s 93-77 romping of the Letran Knights Friday afternoon, Ayo shared that even if two years had passed since he moved to Taft Avenue, he still continues to maintain contact with the current batch of Knights.
“Ako kasi, yung mga players ko na yun, since hindi na ako ang coach nila, naging magtro-tropa na kami. Text, text. Minsan, pag may free time lumalabas din kami,” Ayo, an alumnus of Letran, said.
But it’s not just the remaining Knights in Letran that are invited to their nights out.
“Pati sina Mark [Cruz], K-Racs [Kevin Racal] kasama, especially ngayon kasi si Racs wala ng ensayo sa Alaska,” the 39-year-old furthered.
Up to this day, Ayo and the rest of the squad continue to look back at that magical season that saw an undersized team take down the mighty San Beda Red Lions — a San Beda squad that had two future Gilas pool members.
“Nawala ako, may mga nawala, pero yung 2015 na ‘yun, ibang klase ‘yun,” the former Letran Knight shared.
“If there’s one thing pare na hindi nawawala, yung 2015 na team na yun special yun.”
Ayo went further to say that every time anyone from that team feels down, their go-to remedy to combat it is to watch their epic Game Three overtime triumph against San Beda.
“Ganun naman eh, tipong malungkot ka o ano, isa lang ginagawa namin: pinapanood lang namin yung Game Three against San Beda.
“Tanungin niyo yung mga bata, kahit si Jom Sollano, lahat kami may common denominator na every time na-dedepress kami pare… You can ask them pero every time na sasabihin ni Jom na, ‘Coach, medyo nawalan ako ng kompyansa eh. Ang sasabihin ko, ‘Ano gagawin mo?’ ‘Coach nananoood ako ng Game Three natin,’” he shared, as Jom Sollano is currently struggling in the PBA D-League.
“Even Mark, even K-Racs [yun din ang ginagawa].”
Though there’s one game from that series that the squad refuses to watch.
“Last Christmas nga, we had our Chrismtas party. Isa lang ginawa namin eh: pinanood namin yung Game One at yung Game Three. Siyempre, ayaw namin panoorin yung Game Two!” Ayo quipped.
Ayo thinks that watching that series over and over again makes them remember how they were able to overcome a lot of adversities, turning doubters into believers.
“Sabi nga ni Fr. Vic Calvo, ‘Pare yung shared moments na grabe sinakripisyo niyo, then naging successful kayo. Alam mo yun pare… Yung common bond, hindi mawawala.’ Extreme eh – puwedeng sobrang hirap or sobrang saya na nabubuo kami.
“Siguro mga isang libong beses na namin pinanood yung Game One at Game Three na yun,” Ayo said with a serious tone.
The only coach in Philippine collegiate basketball history to win the NCAA and UAAP championships in succession promises to watch every game of Letran’s NCAA Season 93 campaign.
“Palagi kaming manonood ni McJour [Luib] eh. Parati na kaming constant communication sa mga players.”
