New DLSU coach Ayo sees bright future for Gob, Melecio

MANILA, Philippines – New De La Salle University Green Archers head coach Aldin Ayo envisions a bright future ahead for two of his younger players, Aljun Melecio and JBoy Gob, both of whom played in DLSU’s FilOil-opening win against the Adamson Falcons on Saturday, April 30.

Melecio, last season’s UAAP juniors MVP, played a back-up role and scored 3 points in 15 minutes, while Gob started and was able to produce 20 points plus 7 boards in 24 minutes as La Salle prevailed, 98-88.

Gob has actually been playing many minutes in offseason tournaments for La Salle since Ayo took over, which is surprising considering the big man played in only two games during his UAAP rookie season in 2015 and scored a total of one point.

But it seems like the new coach calling the shots for De La Salle is already going with his own ways to run the team, which includes more exposure for the incoming sophomore.

“JBoy has been doing well and, actually, yung average ni Jboy sa amin (his average for us is), 14 points per game,” Ayo talked about Gob’s play in preseason tilts.

“Even sa Davao, and yung mga iba naming laro, si JBoy nag fi-fit sa amin kasi yung mga tira namin, mga floaters, [at] ang laki ng kamay ng bata eh, so physically kayang kaya niya mag laro.”

(Even in Davao, and our other games, JBoy fits with us because our shots are floaters, and his hands are huge, so physically he can really play.)

 

Mbala connects with JBoy Gob for the layup in the paint https://t.co/Faw2NY8JFC

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 30, 2016

Ayo, who took over for former DLSU head coach Juno Sauler after leading Letran to an NCAA championship over San Beda, also cautioned that the former La Salle Greenhills big man still has ways to improve.

But with more playing time and a good worth ethic, Ayo has confidence Gob can get better sooner than later.

“Since hindi masyadong na gamit last season, in terms of decision making, trinatrabaho namin. Pero skill wise, maganda ugali ng bata, sobrang sipag, and kaya naman ng katawan niya. Walang pupunta yan kung di mag improve.”

(Since he wasn’t used much last year, in terms of decision making, we’re working on him. But skill wise, his worth ethic is good, he’s motivated, and his body can take it. He’s going nowhere but up and improving.)

La Salle displayed its new system in the preseason tournament opener: a faster pace, a lot of pressing on defense, and a lot of fastbreak opportunities.

Jeron Teng, a former UAAP Finals MVP, led everyone with 30 points and grabbed 9 boards while incoming foreign student-athlete Ben Mbala added 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

As a team, DLSU forced 33 Adamson turnovers, mostly coming from the full-court pressure defense Ayo has taken with him to La Salle from Letran.

That kind of system, the coach believes, is something his current players have not had prior experience with. For Melecio, who’s coming off a high school senior season where he led Zobel to the finals, learning the coach’s playbook is a priority.

“Sabi ko nga kanina, si Aljun, hindi din siya galing doon sa sistema na ‘yon. Ang dami niyang opportunity kanina na pwede na siya mag double, the problem is, natatakot siya i-iwan yung tao niya. Feeling niya, pag i-iwan niya tao niya, papagalitan siya,” said Ayo, who added he prefers not to scold players.

(I said earlier that Aljun, he’s not from the kind of system we run. He had many opportunities earlier where he could help to double-team, but the problem is, he’s afraid to leave his man. He feels that if he leaves his guy, he’ll get scolded.)

The former Letran Knight also said that Melecio, who averaged 22.7 points and 7.1 rebounds a game in the elimination round in his last high school season, will be a big piece for his team moving forward considering the lack of true playmakers in the lineup.

“Aljun’s going to play a big role sa amin, kasi kung titingnan natin, si [Thomas Torres] lang yung pure na point guard dian eh. The rest, combo [guard] eh,” said Ayo, who listed last year’s UAAP Rookie of the Year Andrei Caracut and the returning Kib Montalbo as examples.

(Aljun is going to play a big role for us because if we look at the roster, Thomas Torres is our only pure point guard. The rest are combo guards.)

But like what Melecio showed throughout his high school career, Ayo believes the rookie whom he wanted in his team has the potential to make an impact in the collegiate ranks.

 

Former UAAP Jrs MVP Aljun Melecio gets the bucket and the foul https://t.co/EUYdHdPN2X

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) April 30, 2016

“Kasi ito yung tipong pakawalan mo lang, bibigyan ka nitong magandang resulta, and matured na matured yung bata, kahit sa decision making, lahat.” 

(He’s the type of player that will give you a good result, and he’s really matured, even with his decision-making, everything.) – Rappler.com