Letran has agreed to part ways with its champion coach Aldin Ayo.
Fr. Vic Calvo, Letran’s athletic moderator, said, however, that the Letran management has yet to find a replacement for Ayo, who steered the Knights into the championship in the 91st season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament in their title duel against the San Beda Red Lions. The feat also ended Letran’s ten-year title drought.
But barely a month after guiding Letran to the NCAA title, Ayo was approached by officials of De La Salle University and asked him to coach the Green Archers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The Green Archers failed to make it to the Final Four of the league’s 78th season, and their coach, Juno Sauler, resigned.
Calvo said that Letran officials have already convened a search committee, which will, in turn, set up a criteria in their search for the Knights’ next head coach, who is expected to continue where Ayo left off as the team prepares to defend its title next season.
But the school officials said that the committee has yet to draw up a list.
“Wala pa kaming coach. Wala pa knga aming listahan,” said Calvo, who added that the selection of the new coach will undergo the same process. “Kung ano iyung ginawa namin, at kung paano nakita si Aldin Ayo, iyun din ang gagawin namin,” added Calvo.
But while Letran has yet to draw an official list, the names of former PBA player Glen Capacio, Ayo’s assistant coach Louie Gonzales, and former Letran cager Kerby Raymundo have surfaced as possible candidates as the Knights’ new coach.
Ayo, meanwhile, has reportedly come to terms with La Salle management with regards with his contract with the team.
According to sources, Ayo has accepted La Salle’s offer following his meeting with La Salle officials led by its manager Danding Cojuangco, and that La Salle will buy out Ayo’s multi-year contract with Letran.
In other developments, the University of Perpetual Help also took in a new coach in former Altas cager Nick Omorogbe.
The news was confirmed by NCAA Management Committee representative Jeff Tamayo in a message on twitter.
“Yes, nagpalit na tayo ng coach. We will have our alumni Nick Omorogbe,” said Tamayo,
Omorogbe will take over the post from Aric del Rosario.