Ayonayon returns to MPBL in Subic bubble

MIKE AYONAYON returns to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) to settle his unfinished business with the San Juan Knights.

Ayonayon and the Knights will face the Makati Skyscrapers in Game 3 of their pandemic-shuttered Lakan Cup Northern Division best-of-three finals series which resumes on Wednesday in a bubble setup at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone gymnasium.

Ayonayon is already under contract with NLEX and played in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Clark bubble. The Road Warriors management allowed the prized find from intramurals and Cainta leagues to complete his commitment with the Knights.

“It’s a knockout game so we need to adjust quickly. We don’t want to be overconfident but it’s doable,” Ayonayon told Businessmirror on Sunday.

The Knights of head coach Randy Alcantara are already in the Subic bubble, along with Davao City Tigers and Basilan Steels, who will play Game 3 of their own Southern Division finals series also on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Ayonayon was NLEX’S third overall pick in the 2019 Rookie Draft. He averaged 5.3 points, 2.45 rebounds and 2.36 assists in 11 games for NLEX in Clark.

“Our championship experience will be our biggest advantage here in the bubble,” said the 6-foot swingman. “There are so many players who lost their jobs and we’re very lucky and blessed that we are still playing and earning.”

The Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and and the Department of Health allowed the MPBL to resume its season after complying with safety and health protocols. The Subic bubble could end on March 20 if the national finals go the distance. The league was halted March 12 last year because of the pandemic.