Ayo credits Altamirano, Compton for his rise as coach
September 19, 2016 | 11:52am
MANILA, Philippines – "They started this."
Those were the words of La Salle coach Aldin Ayo, who paid homage to his counterpart in National University, the equally decorated tactician Eric Altamirano.
"He and coach Alex (Compton) should be proud," the Sorsogon native added. "Kung hindi nila ako dinala sa Manila, hindi ko nakita kung paano mag-coach sa [UAAP]."
Ayo, who is one of the highly touted mentoring figures in this season's UAAP, is one of many coaches produced by National Basketball Training Center – an amateur hoops program that is Altamirano's brainchild.
Compton was Altamirano's national training director in the NBTC.
Barely a blip in everyone's radar, Ayo made his way to Manila via a coaching stint with the then Kia Sorento.
Eventually, the 38-year-old former Letran Knight helmed his alma mater in 2014, which culminated in an NCAA championship.
He then took over the Green Archers’ coaching reins after Juno Sauler stepped down.
After towing an undersized Knights to the NCAA's summit – at the expense of longtime kings and archrivals San Beda College at that – Ayo is expected to do the same for the Taft squad.
Bringing his leech-like defense – colloquially known as "mayhem" – and running game to a deep and experienced Archers camp, La Salle became an instantaneous favorites in this year's UAAP.
Three of their last outings turned out as routs. And oh, they have yet to be defeated.
"Kung hindi dahil sa kanila... hindi ako makakapag-isip na pumunta dito," Ayo said. "Binibigyan nila ng chance ang mga coaches from the provinces na pumunta dito."
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