Ayo takes the brunt

The UAAP has spoken. UST coach Aldin Ayo has been suspended indefinitely from participating in any league activity for “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.” No sanction was given to the athletics director through whom waiver forms were coursed for parents or guardians to allow the players to train in Ayo’s Sorsogon camp or the school for tolerating the violation of IATF safety guidelines.

Before the UAAP announced the suspension, Ayo and UST athletics director Fr. Jannel Abogado resigned from their positions. Alleged messages from Ayo on a UST team thread recently surfaced in social media confirming his call for training despite the IATF restrictions. “Gusto ko manalo,” said Ayo supposedly in the thread. “We really have to practice the soonest. If we’re not able to practice or prepare well bcoz some players and parents are not reasonable and committed, I’m going to take a sabbatical leave this coming UAAP season 83. Nde na muna ako mag cocoach pero mag pe-prepare na ko sa UAAP season 84. Ayoko mag-coach ng team na nde prepared. Dinaanan ko na yan sa first year natin sa UST. Ung first year understandable pero itong pangatlo nde na pwede. I’ve sacrificed everything for this team and I don’t deserve to be with people who are not on the same page with me. Ang layo natin sa ibang teams. Nag cost-cutting ang Letran, nag-disband ang TIP and Perpetual, nag cost-cutting din ang FEU. Samatalang tayo aggressive ang UST and sina Boss in terms of preparation. Sa UST ang ibang events binawasan ng scholarships and allowances pero ang instruction ni Fr. Jannel wag na wag gagalawin ang basketball.”

There’s no questioning Ayo’s sense of competitiveness. It’s reflected in his track record as the only coach ever to capture back-to-back NCAA and UAAP championships. In four years in the UAAP, he has gone to the Finals thrice, not a bad record for a coach who won a title for La Salle on his first season in the league. Now, he has to pay the price for his single-minded focus to win. CHED and DOJ are studying if UST and even NU should be sanctioned for alleged violations of IATF guidelines. Obviously, their perspective goes beyond personalities although accountability should include individuals. They’re expected to investigate if there were institutional infractions and if there should be institutional sanctions.

On Twitter, we asked for comments on whether or not the UAAP sanction was sufficient to close this case. Here are some of the comments. From Olen Lim: “Surely, there is a process to follow. There was a violation from the IATF and that’s government rules. If IATF through CHED or DOJ will give sanctions or ruling then we wait. UAAP as a body has given theirs. Surely, the sanctions should be to school, sports director and coach. Otherwise why are we all in quarantine if we can get away violating rules? We need to see what message the ruling of IATF will send. It has to be consistent for everyone, no one should be above the law.” From @DOKyuMIELta: “Harsh to give it to Ayo alone. He can’t just bring the gang without consent from higher-ups.” From @charleywoot: “It’s kinda unfair for Ayo to shoulder the burden.” From @DazTwoPoint0: “I’m not sure if an indefinite ban is kinda fair. I’m wondering why it’s for the coach alone.” From @wggutierrez: “Ayo cannot just by himself orchestrate such training bubble … he would seek approval and funding from UST. That would make UST complicit and equally liable. The investigation by UST on the issue is a sham as it would naturally shield itself from wrong-doing.” From @NikAndrada: “Indefinite ban is too much. We all know what ‘they’ did is prohibited but he didn’t do it because gusto niya lang. I’ve heard they passed all the government protocols with parental consent. So why ban him indefinitely?” From @48ocean: “Why just Ayo? Did he decide on the bubble totally on his own? Who funded the P3-M budget? Waivers, who saw them? As head coach, isn’t the authority given to him by the school? Finally, the boys, coaches were in training and the school didn’t know about it?” From @ajtim_0323: “I’m from UST and they should also punish the UST management, it looks like they’re using Ayo as a scapegoat.” From @antonralph: “Coaching is a livelihood, Ayo deserves a second chance in the near future, he will learn from this big mistake.” From @trepDbest: “Administrative case should be filed against Ayo being an elected official (councilor), he is expected to follow the law at all times and criminal case for all involved, except the players, for violating the quarantine protocols.” From @muskkey: “Pressure on the hyped subject made UAAP decide without logical basis, hoping for the best on Ayo’s future after this nonsense suspension.”