LIKE a prodigal Son, coach Aldin Ayo is raring to come back and call the shots anew for University of Santo Tomas in the 84th UAAP basketball tournament.
But in the words of the champion but controversial tactician, the league has apparently no interest in tackling his indefinite suspension that he described as “unjust.”
“Some, if not most (UST officials), would want me back. Others, I don’t really know. I find it very ironic that the UAAP is supposed to promote fair play, but it cannot simply allow itself to sit upon an unjust ban imposed on me,” Ayo told Malaya-Business Insight.
“How I wish I could respond positively to the clamor of the UST community to coach our Growling Tigers basketball team. But as it is, the UAAP ban has not yet been lifted despite the fact that there is no more valid basis in law and in fact for the indefinite ban,” he added.
UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The powerful Board of Trustees, composed of university presidents, lowered the boom on Ayo in September 2020 after he allegedly broke the government’s stringent health protocols by bringing the Growling Tigers to practice in his hometown of Sorsogon City amid the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic from mid-June to August of the same year.
The suspension was based on the findings of the UST fact-finding committee’s probe.
Ayo, 44, insisted he is innocent based on the findings of the proper government agencies.
“It must be remembered that the UAAP board imposed a ban on me for allegedly endangering some of the student athletes of UST for possible criminal violations of the IATF’s health protocols,” Ayo said.
“However, since then, the proper government agencies such as the local PNP, the LGU, and the CIDG conducted their own investigations in Sorsogon and made a finding that there is no liability on my part and that there were no violations in the farm activity I conducted at my farm and house in Sorsogon.”
Nearly two years after getting banished from the league, Ayo has appealed to the league to reconsider its decision.
The league said it will discuss Ayo’s appeal in “due time.”
The Sorsogon City PNP and Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero absolved Ayo, a former three-term councilor of the city, from having made any violation, saying Ayo and his players secured all the necessary documents before going to Capuy, declaring that they are not persons under monitoring (PUMs), did not have any COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days, were tested seven days prior to the trip, and secured all the necessary travel pass from the Joint Task Force COVID Shield.
A 14-day mandatory home quarantine was also put in place before the team went on a “personal development farm training,” that was certified by the Capuy barangay captain, the PNP memorandum added.
In his sworn statement, Ayo said his charges engaged mainly in farm work in exchange for allowance, free meals, and free lodging.
The players “were allowed to make use of a basketball court which is enclosed inside the living room of (Ayo’s) house where the players had individual training and not team practice,” the report said.
