Former University of Santo Tomas head coach Aldin Ayo will not appear in any University Athletic Association of the Philippines competition for a long time.
The league’s Board of Trustees has approved the Board of Managing Directors’ recommendation last September 3 to hand Ayo an “indefinite ban”.
“After thorough deliberation, the UAAP BOT ratified the decision of the BMD to ban coach Aldin Ayo indefinitely from participating, in any capacity, in all UAAP events and UAAP sanctioned-activities,” read the league’s statement.
The decision came during an emergency online meeting by the league’s presidents held Tuesday evening.
For the past two weeks, the league has carefully reviewed the report of UST’s internal probe.
According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation, UST’s report stated that Ayo broke several guidelines set by the Inter-agency Task Force by holding a training camp in Barangay Capuy, Sorsogon from June to August.
2. The movement of all persons in areas placed under GCQ shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, and for work in the offices or industries permitted to operate hereunder. Provided, that movement for leisure purposes shall not be allowed.
3. Any person below twenty-one (21) years old, those who are sixty (60) years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women, including any person who resides with the aforementioned, shall be required to remain in their residences at all times, except when indispensable under the circumstances for obtaining essential goods and services or for work in permitted industries and offices.
From June 17 to July 29, 17 members of the Growling Tigers went from NCR to Sorsogon. NCR was under GCQ during that time, while Sorsogon was under MGCQ until June 30.
Eleven of the 17 players are below 21 years of age.
“The ban is based on the UST report that showed Ayo endangering the health and well-being of the student-athletes under his charge when he conducted the training during a government-declared state of public emergency intended to arrest the COVID-19 outbreak,” the statement continued.
Besides this, the Joint Administrative Order group has also made it clear that “Recreational and Non-Professional Contact Sports and Activities shall be temporarily suspended regardless of risk severity until an effective vaccine and/or appropriate standard of care for COVID-19 cases is developed. On the other hand, professional contact sports and activities shall be allowed for Filipino professional players with scheduled tournaments abroad and in low-risk areas, while observing appropriate protocols and guidelines.”
Since the Growling Tigers are a non-professional contact sport team, they are prohibited from conducting physical activities even in a low-risk area.
Ayo resigned as head coach of the Growling Tigers last September 4.
The last time the league banned an individual was back in 2005.
La Salle’s then-assistant team manager Manny Salgado received a ban after hitting FEU’s Arwind Santos after a game.
In his four-year stay in the UAAP, Ayo — who coached La Salle from Seasons 79-80 and UST from Seasons 81-82 — tallied a 38-18 regular season record, 8-4 in the post-season. He is a one-time UAAP champion and a two-time silver medalist.
Ayo is also an NCAA champion coach.
It is still unknown whether other Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas-sanctioned leagues will also honor the sentence on Ayo. The UAAP is under the SBP.
The Commission on Higher Education has also forwarded the case to the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Governement.
“The UAAP notes that the Commission on Higher Education will conduct an investigation on possible violations by UST and other individuals who may also be liable in the conduct of the activity. The association will follow these developments before discussing the next action on the case,” it said.
