A FORGOTTEN issue?
There’s a new lease on life for former University of Santo Tomas coach Aldin Ayo after he was tapped to call the shots for the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 squad for FIBA tournaments last Monday.
In the UAAP, however, his fate is up in the air.
The league has yet to discuss Ayo’s appeal over his indefinite suspension after he allegedly broke the government’s stringent health protocols by bringing the Growling Tigers to Sorsogon City for team practice amid the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The UAAP said in a statement last Oct. 13 that it has formally received a letter from UST endorsing the plea of Ayo to the UAAP Board of Trustees to reconsider his ban.
Ayo, 43, resigned last Sept. 4, five days before the UAAP Board lowered the boom.
The suspension handed by the Board of Trustees, composed of university presidents, was based on the findings of the UST fact-finding committee’s probe.
He was surprisingly cleared from any liability in the controversial bubble training by the Sorsogon City PNP and provincial government last Oct. 2.
Ayo replaced Eric Altamirano at the helm of the 3×3 team bannered by Fil-Am forward Joshua Munzon, wingman Alvin Pasaol, big man Leonard Santillan, who played for Ayo at La Salle, and Troy Rike.
The champion but controversial coach is likely not yet off the hook.
The Commission on Higher Education has issued a show cause order to UST for violating its advisories that “prohibited mass gatherings such as ceremonies and school activities, until the IATF prohibition is lifted,” last Sept. 7.
The Department of Justice and Department of Interior Local Government are also still investigating the bubble.
The ill-fated UST bubble was pricked after former skipper CJ Cansino said he was kicked out of the team due to “defiance of authority” last Aug. 21.
