It’s been 364 days since Mike Ayonayon stepped foot on the hardcourt of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
Since that time, the 6-foot guard has turned pro and already played a full season with PBA team NLEX during the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup.
But the 29-year-old received an opportunity not afforded to everyone — to settle some unfinished business.
Ayonayon, the third overall pick in the 2019 PBA Draft, was cleared by the PBA to rejoin the San Juan-Go for Gold Knights in the finale of the 2019-21 Chooks-to-Go Lakan Season.
And team owner Jinggoy Estrada moved heaven and earth to make it possible.
“Kasi ang ginawa ni Sen, talagang siya mismo kumontact kay Comm Willie Marcial. Buti naaprubahan agad, then tinawagan ako ni Sen na ‘Okay na. Pwede ka na maglaro’,” said Ayonayon, who averaged 5.36 points, 2.36 assists, and 2.45 rebounds per game in his first PBA season.
“Nagulat ako.”
Estrada shared the process he had to go through just to get Ayonayon back.
“This is what happened. Noong nalaman ko na matutuloy na ang MPBL, siyempre si Mike is a very valuable player for San Juan. Kumbaga prized gem namin ‘yan, so I had to a certain effort to call Commissioner Willie Marcial of the PBA and ask him if the outstanding agreement between MPBL and PBA is still in effect.
“So sabi niya I will have to consult the board of governors tomorrow. Sabi ni Commissioner Marcial sa akin, ‘I will give you a call tomorrow’. The next day, tumawag siya nung bandang hapon. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Senator, okay na si Mike Ayonayon. You can let him play sa Finals ng MPBL’. So nagpasalamat naman ako kay Comm Marcial. Napakabait ni Commissioner Marcial,” shared Estrada during the first episode of The Crossover: Inside The Chooks-to-Go MPBL Bubble.
The Datu Cup Finals MVP is ready, since he has waited for this moment for so long.
Moreover, the Knights will be highly-favored against Makati Super Crunch in the 4:00PM clash.
Makati, who took San Juan to the limit last year, will only field five players in the win-or-go-home North Finals.
But that does not mean that Ayonayon and his crew will let their guards down.
“May goal kami eh, at hindi namin bibiguin ang aming fans at ‘yung team owners namin na sumuporta sa amin.”
