No plan to fire Cantonjos as UST juniors coach, Ayo clarifies

MANILA, Philippines — If it were up to him, UST Growling Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo actually wants Tiger Cubs coach Chris Cantonjos to stay.

Cantonjos, who steered the Tiger Cubs back to the Final Four after six seasons, resigned after reports said Ayo is planning to replace him as head coach.

"Sa akin, if we have offended him, hindi namin sinasadya na mangyari. Kung nakaramdam siya ng ganoon, with all sincerity, I would like to apologize to him," Ayo told UST's official publication, The Varsitarian.

In fact, Ayo said he is planning to include Cantonjos in his coaching staff.

"I look up to him," he added.

"He had a great background and more than that, wala kaming (tao sa) coaching staff na kaya mag handle sa big man. Siya 'yun, because he is a legend in UST and one of the big men that UST had," said the former NCAA and UAAP champion coach.

Earlier reports said Ayo was planning to bring Mapua University's Randy Alcantara to coach the juniors' team.

However, he said it will be difficult for Alcantara to balance the job since he is also coaching Tanduay in the PBA D-League.

The newly minted UST coach also clarified that it was UST athletics moderator Rodrigo Sambuang who gave him the green light to convince UAAP 80 MVP CJ Cansino stay with the school.