Despite their sour break-up that saw him transfer from University of Santo Tomas to University of the Philippines, CJ Cansino still holds his former head coach Aldin Ayo with the utmost respect.
In a talk on Mikee Reyes’s Straight-Up online show, the 21-year-old shared how the decorated mentor was off and on the court.
“Si Coach Aldin, lalo pagka sa players wala ka masasabi. Sobrang bait ni Coach Aldin.
“Tuturuan ka talaga kung ano yung para sa future. Yung relationship namin parang father and son. Sinasabi niya lahat ng dapat mo gawin na kelangan may disiplina. Sasabihin niya kung ano yung makakabuti talaga sa ‘yo,” said the former Growling Tigers skipper.
“Minsan, nagpupunta kami sa bahay nila sa Cubao. Kumakain kami dun. Buong team, nanonood kami ng movies din. Mga ganung bagay,” he continued.
Ayo personally recruited Cansino during the off-season of UAAP Season 81.
It was a match made in heaven as the 6-foot-2 utility guard proved to be the catalyst in UST’s resurgence in UAAP Men’s Basketball. After finishing dead last in Season 80, the Growling Tigers was just a game away from making it to the Final Four a year later before reaching the Finals in Season 82.
According to Cansino, giving their all in every game was the result of seeing Ayo working tirelessly for them.
“Makikita mo kasi kung paano magtrabaho kaya as a player, sasabihin mo hindi ako puwede na simple lang.
“Kasi kung magtrabaho siya, hindi natutulog yun. Grabe! Kaya mahihiya ka na lang sa sarili mo na pag hindi ka magtrabaho, paano ko maapply yung mga tinrabaho ni coach. Grabe yung dedication niya sa basketball. No sugarcoating eto. Grabe. UAAP last season, every after game nagtratrabaho yun. Viewing mga ganun. Grabe magtrabaho yun,” recalled Cansino, citing that during the season, Ayo would sleep at 3:00AM to review film. And this was after a game day.
Besides his attention to detail, Cansino also bared that Ayo treated each player the same.
And despite looking the part, Cansino swore that Ayo never berated his players in practices.
“Actually, hindi ko masabi na may favorite siya. Yung relationship niya sa team, parepareho rin talaga. Hindi masyado nagmumura si coach. Lahat kami pinapagalitan.”
Cansino though was removed from the Growling Tigers last August. It gave rise to the controversial “Bicol bubble” scandal.
Ayo, on the other hand, resigned from his post back in early September. His protege Jinino Manansala was eventually named as Growling Tigers head coach.
Government agencies so far have absolved Ayo from any wrongdoings from the Bicol bubble.
Ayo eventually found a home as head coach of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3’s Philippine team.
