Motivated Zachy Huang finds new hope with UST under coach Ayo

'Chinese Assassin' strikes in Bayugan

CEBU, Philippines — The University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, one of the country's winningest collegiate ballclubs, hit the lowest ebb of their storied history in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) last year.

In a nigtmarish campaign during the UAAP Season 80, the Tigers finished with an awful 1-13 record, the worst in the annals of UST basketball.

Under fire, Boy Sablan just did the right thing - resign as UST head coach.

Enter Aldin Ayo.

After he parted ways with the La Salle Green Archers, whom he piloted to the UAAP Season 79 championship spotlighted by a memorable undefeated streak by the team, Ayo locked up a six-year pact with the Tigers.

For Cebuano do-it-all power forward Zachary Lance 'Zachy' Ty Huang, Ayo's arrival came like a whiff of fresh air for the Tigers. It drives them to roar back with fire in their eyes.

"We are all down last season, winning only one game against 13 losses," said Huang, who bagged two titles with the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) during his high school days. "Coach Ayo's arrival gives us new hope and drives us not only to be a better team but also to be a better version of ourselves. "

Under the behest of coach Ayo, who as a player helped the Letran Knights snare back-to-back NCAA crowns in 1998 and 1999 together with Kerby Raymundo and Chris Calaguio, the 20-year-old Huang said his individual playing skill was enhanced because of their extrensive training regimen.

"He's (Ayo) a great motivator. We trained hard and I learned a lot from him especially on developing my individual skills," said Huang.

Ayo's trust in Huang was evident when the 6-foot-3 juggernaut was given substantial playing time during the recently concluded Mayor Kim Lope A. Asis Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

In response, Huang punched in quality minutes.

A defense-oriented hardcourt warrior, Huang may not that be an explosive scorer but he can deliver the goods at any given time, most especially when his services are needed most by his team.

That earned him the monicker 'Chinese Assassin' from Bayugan tournament organizer and multi-titled talent scout/coach Val Halen Parmis.

The 'Chinese Assassin' did strike. During their final match against the University of Cebu (UC) last Friday night, Huang dropped 10 of his 12 points in the third quarter, enabling the Tigers to stay in the thick of the right in the face of a spirited challenge by the Webmasters. UST went on to beat UC, 88-83, to take home the P200,000 champion's purse.

It was Huang's first taste of a championship in three years with UST. Last year, they also made it to the Bayugan final but lost to the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.

Huang, highly motivated this time, wants to do more for the Tigers in the upcoming UAAP Season 81 staring this December.

"Under coach Ayo, I think we are more motivated this time. We want to make a statement and erase the stigma of our disappointing campaign last season," said Huang. "As for me, I have matured a lot gleaned on my three-year experience playing for UST. I will just give whatever I can to help our team and try to do more what they expect from me."

"Admittedly, we still have a lot of things to improve on and work out for but one thing for sure is that we have a fighting chance. We will compete this time and hopefully, we will make it to the Final Four," concluded Huang. (FREEMAN)