UST welcomes Ayo

MANILA, Philippines – After all the drama, University of Santo Tomas finally broke its silence on the arrival of multi-title head coach Aldin Ayo in the Tigers’ lair.

In a statement released on Monday, the oldest university in Asia welcomed the “well-accomplished coach” Ayo who is reportedly to coach the Growling Tigers in the next six years.

“As the university moves forward in preparation for the next season, the Thomasian community welcomes the new head coach of the UST Growling Tigers, Coach Aldin Ayo,” the official statement read.

UST is set to formally announce Ayo as the head tactician of the basketball team this Thursday.

The Espana-based campus cited two reasons in choosing the 40-year-old Ayo – his discipline and desire in molding student-athletes.

“The basketball program that he espouses is based on discipline that gives primary importance to the academic life of the student-athletes. The same ideal that UST has constantly advocate since the inception of the athletic program,” the statement continued.

“Coach Ayo is more than willing to accommodate the university’s modest salary scheme, thus demonstrating his desire to provide proper guidance to his players in this educative process outweighs all else.

Before his transfer to UST, Ayo had two brilliant seasons in De La Salle University where he led the Green Archers to two finals appearance with one title.

Ayo gained his elite status in the collegiate ranks after giving the underdog Colegio de San Juan de Letran a championship in his first year as coach.

Ayo wrote history as the first coach to win back-to-back titles from NCAA to UAAP.

Prior to this, the Growling Tigers had a dismal season after almost having a winless season under then head coach Boy Sablan who salvage a solitary win in 14 games.