De La Salle University Green Archers head coach Aldin Ayo plans to continue coach Eric Altamirano’s vision
Every after games, head coach Aldin Ayo never forgets to credit the opposing coach, thanking them for the opportunity to face them.
Given the wins he has notched, it’s easy to forget that Ayo is still a neophyte — one of the youngest chief mentors in the collegiate game today. And he never really had a senior to guide him through his journey; every game was a baptism of fire.
“I can say that this is more difficult because of the pressure, magagaling yung mga coaches na nakalaban ko dito. Pero ako I’m very grateful na nandito ako and I was able to acheive this because madami akong natutunan sa coaches na nakalaban ko,” the 39-year-old coach shared on Wednesday evening.
“Every time nakalaban ko sila coach Franz [Pumaren], si coach Bo [Perasol], si coach Derrick [Pumaren], coach Eric [Altamirano], and the rest of the coaches, everytime nakalaban ko yung mga yun, pinagaaralan ko ang sistema nila and natututo ako.”
After he left Manila a few years ago, the Sorsogon native saw first-hand how difficult it is for aspiring coaches to get a break. If it hadn’t been for Altamirano’s National Basketball Training Center program, maybe the “House of Chaos” and “Mayhem” would not have reached Manila.
“Kung hindi naman nila ako dinala dito sa Manila tapos hindi ko naman nakita kung paano mag-coach dito, hindi ako makakapag-isip na pumunta dito,” Ayo said.
“I’m very grateful to coach Eric, Ma’am Marissa [Altamirano] and Coach Alex [Compton] because of their NBTC program.”
And he plans to continue Altamirano’s vision by giving back in his own way.
“Malaking bagay ito [UAAP championship] sa mga coaches na naka-base sa provinces kasi ako lang ang coach na hindi nag-umpisa sa Manila. Galing talaga ako sa probinsiya and I was given the opportunity to coach here and ganito ang na-achieve ko,” he added.
“Madaming tumitingala sa akin na coaches from the provinces. Plano ko after this season, I was talking to coaches sa provinces na pupunta ako sa provinces nila for free.”
He is doing this not for publicity nor any personal ambition. Ayo, who has gone on record to say that basketball is his life, just wants to help jumpstart the careers of the younger coaches in the provinces.
“Gusto ko lang na tumulong sa coaches based sa provinces, kaya din ng coaches galing probinsiya, kahit wala kayong kilala. As long as you work hard, you love the game, mag-pursige ka, kaya mo mag-coach sa Manila.”
