November 5, 2016 was a day coach Aldin Ayo will not forget
Just over 15 days ago, the De La Salle University Green Archers suffered their first and only defeat of the season. And it came at the hands of arch-rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles.
As the final buzzer sounded inside the SMART-Araneta Coliseum Wednesday evening, the idle Green Archers now know who they will face in the last stage of the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Basketball tournament: the same Blue Eagles squad that made them mortal.
“On our part, extra motivated kami kasi they took something from us. Di ko nakakalimutan yung November 5 na yun,” Ayo said after Ateneo’s win over FEU.
“It’s the kind of a loss na makes you ponder kung saan nag-umpisa yung career mo, kung gaano kahirap yung mga na-experience mo before ka makapunta sa ganitong level. Kasi yun yung mga talo na feeling mo nawala sa iyo lahat eh. Sa La Salle kasi, grabe ang expectation, and although isang talo lang namin yun, pero feeling namin, nawala lahat.
“Pero personal kasi sa akin, wala naman akong ginagawa kung hindi basketball lang talaga. Para sa akin, personally, dito ako kumukuha ng self-esteem ko, dito ako kumukuha ng self-confidence ko, so doon mo makikita kung ano yung naramdaman ko after that loss.
“Feeling ko, nawala lahat. Pero ang kagandahan, feeling lang yun. Isang talo lang naman eh. We have a chance to redeem ourselves, and maganda dahil it’s Ateneo,” he furthered.
Ayo himself has experienced the atmosphere of a finals series pitting two fierce rivals. A year ago, the Sorsogon City-native led an underdog Letran Knights squad to the top of the NCAA mountain, outlasting highly-favored rivals San Beda Red Lions in three grueling games.
This time around, the roles have changed as he is now handling a highly-favored team. But Ayo’s mentality is still the same.
“Well it’s different. I’m on the other side eh. Last year, we were the underdogs. Eto, this year, mga kalaban namin, pinalabas nilang kami yung malakas na team.
“Magka-iba kasi yung pressure, mas mahirap. Ako yung pakiramdam ko sa 14 wins, hindi dapat i-celebrate eh. Every won game for me it’s just relief eh. Palaging feeling ko, ‘Ay salamat, nakaraos din.’ Hindi katulad nung nasa Letran an every won game, kailangan mo i-celebrate kasi nobody was exepecting us to win. It’s a different situation,” he said.
“But if there’s one thing na parehas, siyempre it’s just basketball.”
And with the end goal just two wins away, the practices of the Green Archers are at full blast. For Ayo, bringing the crown back to Taft Avenue entails great sacrifice, both for the team and the staff.
“Yung first two practices namin, naramdaman ko na masuka-suka yung mga yun. Sabi ko sa kanila, guys this is the championship. I-surrender niyo na ang sarili niyo sa gagawin natin, sakripisyo na ang sarili niyo. Yung coaches naman, ganun ang ginagawa namin, halos di na kami natutulog,” Ayo remarked about what the team has been up to the past seven days.
“Yung mga players sabi ko just subject yourselves to the demand of the system.”
And after 28 days, Ayo and the Green Archers are fully prepared to exact vengeance on the Blue Eagles.
