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| Bicol Today (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--A top Letran basketball official confirmed initial reports of a surprise coaching switch between the said school and another academe a few blocks away.
The Knights' team manager, Ricky Paulino, confirmed on Thursday that Coach Aldin Ayo, who recently steered them to their first NCAA title in ten years, has indeed moved to the De La Salle Green Archers, affirming reports by Spin's Snow Badua and Rappler's Naveen Ganglani on Wednesday night.
"Unfortunately, it is confirmed that Aldin (Ayo) left Letran for La Salle," said Paulino as told to some reporters of Letran's official publication, The Lance. The said school paper quoted Paulino's statement on its Twitter account.
JUST IN: "Unfortunately, it is confirmed that Aldin (Ayo) left Letran for La Salle." - Letran Team Manager Ricky Paulino #StayUpdated
— The LANCE (@TheLANCELetran) November 26, 2015
Ayo was seen with top La Salle basketball officials at a certain hotel later Wednesday night. He was also seen at the Letran campus on Thursday for a meeting with the team's officials.
Once made formal, Ayo, a former Knights player, will replace Juno Sauler as the Green Archers' new coach, the first time a non-La Sallian will head the team since current UE mentor Derrick Pumaren, whose younger brother Franz was among the prime candidates for the said stint.
Ayo surprised the NCAA basketball scene with his "House of Chaos" play system anchored on pressure defense and fast-paced offense, opening the Letran season with seven straight wins en route to beating the bigger San Beda lineup for the NCAA championship last month, the first since 2005.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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