No welcome sign for Aldin Ayo in the NCAA: sources

It looks like no NCAA window of opportunity will open for embattled college coach Aldin Ayo after UAAP slammed the door on him several days ago.

There will also be no ‘Welcome’ sign hanging anytime soon, if the reports are accurate.

The nation’s top collegiate league, an NCAA source said, has reached an informal agreement covering all 12 member schools that, in essence, says no team will make Ayo, who resigned as head coach of the University of Santo Tomás a few days ago, offered an offer that I could not refuse.

League sources told the Manila Bulletin that NCAA officials have raised the matter during recent meetings and have reached a unanimous decision to have nothing to do with Ayo, who a few days ago was hit with an “indefinite suspension” by the UAAP for organizing a ‘training bubble ‘unauthorized in the town of Sorsogon since June.

READ: CHED on UST bubble: Clearly Sorsogon training actually took place

“Incidentally, it was discussed and it was agreed that no school would hire him, either to acquire his services or if he applies for a position as a coach,” said the source who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The same source later said that a recommendation letter drafted by the Management Committee (MANCOM) had already been sent to the Policy Board for approval.

Another person with knowledge clarified that the NCAA “decision” is not intended to complement the UAAP’s verdict in any way, but is a totally independent judgment decision.

“It is not because the UAAP decided to suspend it indefinitely. In fact, even before they made up their minds, we’ve already talked about that, as an association, that we won’t hire him as a coach, ”said the source.

The ‘group chat messages’, said to have come from Ayo and sent to her UST players, were made available to the NCAA higher ups and apparently influenced the consensus call.

A former Letran player, Ayo quickly became one of the best college coaches in the country after he led the Knights to the NCAA title against the mighty San Beda in 2015, in his freshman year.

He then crossed the lines and moved to De La Salle the following season and there he guided the Green Archers to the UAAP championship against their archrival Athenaeum.

Soon after, Ayo packed her bags once more.

His mission seemingly ended at DLSU, Ayo changed color two years later, this time from green to bright gold, accepting the head coach job at UST, which passed over the Far East and the University of the Philippines in the phase of UAAP semi-finals ladder before. falling before the Ateneo in the championships.

With back-to-back titles and a final appearance, Aldin Ayo was on his way to another shot at a third major college championship as the UAAP 83 season loomed earlier this year.

But then came a very malevolent virus and a dire decision to throw caution to the wind.

So now, instead of an open path to recently sanctioned college training, doors and windows are closing around amateur basketball’s most sought-after mentor.

Only time will tell when he will be invited again.