Title-winning coaches Ayo, Jarin to be feted
CHAMPION coaches Aldin Ayo and Jamike Jarin will be feted later this month by the people who cover the country’s collegiate leagues.
In ceremonies to be held on Jan. 26 at the Montgomery Place Social Hall in E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines-National Collegiate Athletic Association ( UAAPNCAA) Press Corps will hand out its annual Collegiate Basketball Awards, with awardees headed by the two coaches as “Coach of the Year” after leading their respective teams to the championship crowns in the UAAP and NCAA.
Mr. Ayo steered the De La Salle Green Archers to the UAAP Season 79 title in only his first year with the school. After helping the Letran Knights in capturing the NCAA championship in 2015, he moved to La Salle and continued with his winning ways.
He led the Archers to a near perfect season — a 13-1 record in the elimination round and going 3- 0 in the playoffs, including a sweep of archrivals Ateneo Blue Eagles in the finals.
The title conquest came a year after the Archers missed the final four altogether.
“The championships I have won are uniquely different. But I can say that this (UAAP) is more difficult because of the pressure and the caliber of the coaches I went up against on the road to it,” said Mr. Ayo after winning the title for La Salle.
“I’m thankful that I’m here and I was able to achieve this. I learned a lot from the coaches of the other teams that I went up against. Coach Franz [Pumaren of Adamson], Coach Bo [Perasol of the University of the Philippines], Coach Derrick [Pumaren of University of the East], Coach Eric [Altamirano of National University] and the others, I studied their system and I learned a lot from them,” he added.
REDEMPTION
Mr. Jarin, for his part, saw redemption come his way after winning it all for the San Beda Red Lions in NCAA Season 92 basketball.
Came short in his first year at the helm in 2015 against Mr. Ayo and Letran, Mr. Jarin made short not to fail the following year with his team tying the best record in the league at 14-4 after the classification phase with the Arellano Chiefs and then sweeping the latter in the finals en route to the title.
Mr. Jarin highlighted the “selfless” way they played in Season 92 and pointed to it as the key to them ending at the top.
“This team was built to be selfless,” said the coach who led San Beda to its ninth NCAA championship in 11 years and 20th overall.
“It’s always my trademark to use all my players, give them all the exposure and after the season you make a bond that will last forever and this one is for the books and I’m very happy. God is good,” Mr. Jarin added.
Incidentally, Mr. Jarin has left San Beda and is now the coach of the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP.
Apart from the Coach of the Year, also to be handed out during the Collegiate Basketball Awards, which is backed by Smart, Accel, Mighty Sports and MJM Productions, are the Player of the Year award and the Collegiate Mythical Five as well as the Pivotal Player, Impact Player, Super Senior and Mr. Efficiency awards.