Former UST head coach Aldin Ayo is making a recent push to coach the Tigers again, two years after he resigned and was banned “indefinitely” by the UAAP for mounting a controversial training “bubble” for the Tigers in Sorsogon during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic and amid strict lockdowns in the country.
“I am willing to go back to UST and help the team recover its character and winning ways,” Ayo told the Varsitarian on April 21 after the Tigers’ 50-point loss to the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, which is the largest losing margin in the UAAP Final Four era.
The Tigers, currently coached by Ayo’s former assistant Jinino Manansala, have won only three of their 10 games, two of which came against the winless University of the East Red Warriors.
The UST team that emerged after the Sorsogon fallout has been shaky. It is the second-worst team in Season 84 with a 3-7 win-loss record through 10 games.
The Tigers’ seven losses came by an average of 24.43 points, while their three wins came by an average of 10 points. Aside from being smacked with the most lopsided loss in the Final Four era, they are also the only team in recent history to give up 100 points in back-to-back games.
“The UST team now [is composed of] mostly rookies,” Ayo said. “They need a steadying fulcrum now.”
What’s stopping Ayo from coming back?
In an interview with the Varsitarian, a high-ranking UST official who requested anonymity said the decision to lift the ban on Ayo was not in the hands of UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. but the UAAP Board of Trustees (BOT), contradicting reports of other publications.
“There’s no truth to the report that the UAAP BOT is just waiting for the signature of Father Ang for them to lift the ban,” the official said. “Walang ganoong condition na binigay ang UAAP BOT.”
The UAAP BOT is a collegial body composed of the presidents of the eight UAAP schools.
“Kahit i-endorse [ng UST] si coach, nakadepende pa rin yun sa UAAP BOT as a collegial body,” the official said. “It’s a collegial body so decisions should be decided by all. BOT ang magdedecide talaga hindi si Rector.”
In fact, the UST official said the University had already appealed for the reconsideration of Ayo’s ban twice.
“To be fair with UST admin, we have given two endorsements already to the appeal of Aldin Ayo dated Oct. 2, 2020 and Aug. 24, 2021,” the official said.
An endorsement allows a certain case to be added to the agenda and potentially debated during BOT meetings. In the case of Ayo’s ban, the University’s endorsements are still subject to the decision of the BOT.
The UAAP said its ban on Ayo was based on UST’s 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.”
Still, Ayo, who has pending coaching offers from amateur and professional leagues, said he wanted to have a personal meeting with the Rector for a chance to “redeem myself and [my] team for the UST community.”
“Thank you for the loyalty of all those who still want me back at UST,” Ayo said. “I hope for the best and hopefully the soonest possible as I really want to help the team.”
Reinstating Ayo would require Manansala to transition to team manager, which a source earlier told the Varsitarian the latter was willing to do. with reports from Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr.
