COLLEGE basketball champion coach Aldin Ayo was tapped yesterday as Manila Chooks TM 3×3 team for FIBA tournaments.
The 43-year-old Ayo succeeded Eric Altamirano, who resigned from his post last Nov. 1 following a two-year run that saw the Philippines rise to become one of continental powers in 3×3.
“I’m very grateful because, for me, this will bring another dimension to my coaching career,” said Ayo during the team’s courtesy call with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno inside City Hall yesterday.
The Manila Chooks TM squad is composed of the country’s best in 3×3 basketball – Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike and no. 6 Santi Santillan.
“Throughout my coaching career, it was the full-length of the court, but this time will be different. I can’t wait to try out new schemes for half-court,” said Ayo, whose famed “Mayhem” system has resulted to NCAA and UAAP men’s basketball championships for Letran and La Salle, respectively.
Manila Chooks TM cannot have chosen a better successor as Ayo has been a proven winner in each and every program he has handled.
“Coach Ayo is my personal choice,” said BAVI president and 3×3 patron Ronald Mascariñas. “He is the most decorated coach in college right now and we are excited that he is now here with us.”
BAVI sports and marketing director Mel Macasaquit, for his part, assured that Altamirano, who was the commissioner in the recently-concluded Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 league in Calamba, will still be very much a part of the program.
“Both parties are on good terms and that we will still work with Coach Eric in the future,” said Macasaquit.
Although he is already learning the ropes of this new sport, Ayo will not yet join Manila Chooks TM as they see action in the Doha Masters of the FIBA 3×3 World Tour later in the month. His first formal training session with
Munzon and company has been penciled in before the year ends.
Ayo will reunite with Santillan, who was one of the vital cogs in La Salle’s 2017 UAAP title run.
