New Growling Tigers’ mentor Aldin Ayo tapped familiar faces, including champion coach in the NCAA juniors’ division, to complete his coaching staff.
In an interview with the Varsitarian Thursday, Ayo named Randy Alcantara, Napoleon Garcia and Ruden De Vera as the missing pieces to his staff.
Alcantara, who led the Mapua Junior Red Robins to the 2016 NCAA championship, will join Bonnie Garcia as deputy assistants.
Former Colegio de San Juan de Letran assistant coach Nap Garcia will take over scouting and recruitment of players along with McJour Luib and Rene Baena.
“For the recruitment, syempre ‘yung [hinahanap] natin na player ay may coachability, someone who would fit in coach Ayo’s system, masipag sa depensa at nag-aaral nang mabuti kasi mahalaga sa atin ‘yun,” Nap Garcia said.
De Vera, who was Ayo’s assistant coach for the Aemilianum College Knights of Sorsogon City in 2009, will manage the academic requirements, class schedule and dormitory of the Tigers.
“Sa policy ni coach, una talaga ang academics. ‘Yung mga players, everyday ko chine-check kung pumapasok, mayroon akong schedule nila. Kapag hindi pumasok at nag-training, sinisita namin. Strikto kami,” the 40-year-old de Vera said.
Last Jan. 11, Bonnie Garcia, McJour Luib, Kristoffer Co and Rene Baena were previously introduced as part of Ayo’s new staff.
Corrective stage
Ayo and his coaching staff focused on the Tigers’ physical conditioning and the fundamentals of the game in almost three weeks of training.
“Ngayon nasa stage pa lang ng correctives, tinatama pa lang ng coaches ‘yung imbalance sa katawan ng mga bata. If they are not there physically, then we won’t reach anything. We are also reminding them of the basics of basketball,” Ayo said.
The 40-year-old coach said he would instill a sense of responsibility among his wards to ensure immersion in his system.
Ayo’s contract was finalized in the third week of January. The Institute of Physical Education and Athletics did not disclose specifications of his contract.
