Sunday marked the first time Aldin Ayo coached against the squad that he led to the NCAA Season 91 title as the De La Salle Green Archers battled the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup.
The Green Archers won, 78-70 behind 22 points from Jeron Teng and a double-double of 14 points and 18 rebounds from Ben Mbala.
After the game, Ayo spoke highly of his former team, saying they are still a force to be reckoned with because of their effort.
The mentor also said he just relished the opportunity of pushing his former guys to become even better.
“Ginagawa ko lang trabaho ko. Sa akin naman, as much as possible, gusto ko rin i-push yung mga yun. Tradition naman ng Letran yun kahit sa ensayo o nasa labas na kayo, you always bring out the best sa kapwa mo Letranista,” Ayo said. “The best way to do that is to challenge them.”
“Those guys are going to figure out how to win. Pag pumasok sila sa Final Four, kabahan sila sa mga to, hindi to magpapatalo to ng ganun lang kadali,” Ayo added.
Knights gunner Rey Nambatac, on the other hand, described the game as one which had an odd feeling.
“Iba kanina sa start pa lang ng game. Iba yung intensity na pinakita namin sa game. Nag-e-enjoy kami. Hindi naman namin iniisip na gusto namin makabawi,” Nambatac, who finished with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, said.
Poised to be the new leader of the defending NCAA winners, Nambatac said the team also lived up to the challenge of trying to show Ayo that Letran is still a competitive unit.
“Pero naging motivation yun na kalaban na namin siya ngayon, kailangan namin ipakita na buo pa rin kami,” the fourth-year guard said.
Though Ayo and Nambatac are on different sides now, both still share high respect for each other.
Ayo added that he believes Nambatac is primed to be Letran’s main man this NCAA season.
“Kay Rey na talaga yung team na ‘yun. He knows that he is the leader of that team. Makita mo grabe pumasa, grabe dumepensa. Kita mo, he leads the team and all the players respect him because he is a credible leader,” Ayo said.
Nambatac, meanwhile, wants Ayo to succeed as well.
“I’m rooting for La Salle this coming UAAP. Iba si coach Aldin mag-handle ng team. Kung wala kang kumpiyansa, bibigyan ka niya. Ganiyan siya,” Nambatac said.
