Aldin Ayo confirms move to DLSU, says he’ll always be a ‘Letranite’ – reports

MANILA, Philippines – It’s official: champion NCAA head coach Aldin Ayo is set to take over head coaching duties for De La Salle University in the UAAP.

It was Ayo himself who made the news public during a celebration of Letran’s recently-won championship held inside the college on Friday, November 27.

(READ: Aldin Ayo to be named new DLSU coach – sources)

“Next year, I won’t be here. La Salle na ako,” Ayo, a graduate of Letran, told the public during the celebration, according to ABS-CBN sports.

Ayo, a native of Sorsagon, didn’t go into the specifics of the move, instead saying that it was “personal” and it wasn’t for the money.

“Yung (The) reason is very personal. After winning the championship, I gained everything pero naisip ko ring maraming importanteng nawala sa akin,” he said.

(I also realize that I lost a lot of important things.)

“Di namin napag-usapan detalye (We didn’t talk about the details). I just said yes,” said Ayo, who admitted he was contacted by La Salle on Monday and drove to Manila from Sorsogon immediately to meet them. He said yes to them on Tuesday.

“Myself, I have enough,” he said about the money factor.

According to this report by Malaya, Ayo accepted a 3-year, 9-million peso deal with DLSU.

The head coach, who helped steer the Knights past the San Beda Red Lions in the finals, said that he still had 3 years left in his contract with Letran but was allowed to leave by the college’s Dominican priests. 

Nonetheless, Ayo declared that “I will always be a Letranite. I will always make Letran proud.”

Ayo also said that his deputy Louie Gonzales will join him in Taft, as well as assistant coach Siot Tanquingcen, who was an assistant for now former head coach of La Salle, Juno Sauler.

Ayo also reportedly said during the celebration that he feels his assistant Glenn Capacio is best suited to take over for the Knights.

During the celebration on Friday, Letran reverend father Clarence Victor C. Marquez O.P told the crowd that the school has given Ayo the blessing to leave for La Salle.

“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, according to Spin.ph. – Rappler.com