After steering the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights to clinch the NCAA Season 91 Seniors Men Basketball championship, rookie coach Aldin Ayo bid the Letran community farewell at the victory celebration of the Colegio last Friday, November 27, 2015, during the 395th Colegio Week.
Ayo’s statement finally puts an end to recent speculations regarding his move to De La Salle University (DLSU) to fill the coaching vacancy left behind by Juno Sauler.
His departure though has been mired in controversy, with a number of reports alleging that his transfer to DLSU comes with a hefty sum of P9 million from the Green Archers’ benefactor Danding Cojuangco. And amidst the celebratory mood of the Colegio Week, Letran’s president Rev. Fr. Clarence Victor Marquez, O.P. called for a “crusade” to “protect the best interest of amateur sports.”
‘Not about the money’
In his message addressed to the Letran community, his sudden departure from his alma mater was a matter of personal choice. He also assured that his move to DLSU was not motivated neither by a lucrative offer nor politics. “It is not about the money. Don’t ever think about it because I myself have enough. Simple lang naman lifestyle ko.”
He felt that the recent victory by the Knights burned him out and that he needed a break by heading back to his hometown in Sorsogon for he is content with his simple lifestyle. Also, he affirmed his loyalty and love for Letran and declared that he will always be a proud Letranite. He promised to help the Knights in any way possible.
“I will always be a Letranite. I will always come back here. I will always help the team. And everything that I do, I will always make Letran proud because I love Letran!”
‘Crusade’ for amateurism
Afterwards, Rev. Fr. Clarence Victor Marquez, O.P. thanked coach Ayo for his contribution to the Letran community and wished him the best on his next job.
“Now, our triumph is tempered by tears, our joy is mixed with sorrow. Our beloved coach, Aldin Ayo, outstanding LETRAN alumnus, is bidding us ‘farewell’ in order to coach for another school, in another league, for reasons most personal and professional. And with hearts, heavy but honorable still, we will let him go, wish him all the best, keep his name in holy and grateful memory,” Marquez said in a statement.
Marquez continued that Letran will continue to “promote the true spirit of amateur sports” by “do[ing] what is right, what is true, what is good.”
As president of Letran and its co-representative to the NCAA management committee, Marquez invited the other NCAA schools to “launch this crusade of promoting and protecting the best interest of amateur sports.”
“We will be true champions—knights in shining armor—defending our honor… abiding by the rules and ethics of fair competition, extending and earning respect from our colleagues, always courteous to opponents, committed only to the greater good of our student-athletes, our coaches and trainers, our alumni, and fans,” the statement continued.
Former Senator Freddie Webb, a Letran alumnus, praised him for being a model Letranite and for living up to the ideals of the Colegio. In his final act as Knights coach, together with the Letran Knights and the Dominicans fathers, Ayo raised the seventeenth championship banner to the rafters of the Blessed Antonio Varona Gymnasium amidst the cheers and applause of the Letran community.
