UAAP slaps indefinite ban on former UST coach Aldin Ayo
Former University of Santo Tomas men’s basketball team coach Aldin Ayo has been banned in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines indefinitely.
The sanction was meted on him by the UAAP after its Board of Trustees carefully evaluated the recommendations of the league’s Board of Managing Directors on the alleged training bubble of the Growling Tigers in Capuy, Sorsogon, hometown of Mr. Ayo.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the UAAP said Mr. Ayo is banned indefinitely from participating, in any capacity, in all league events and UAAP sanctioned-activities.
“The ban is based on the UST report that showed Ayo endangering the health and well-being of the student athletes under his charge when he conducted the training during a government-declared state of public emergency intended to arrest the COVID-19 outbreak,” the statement read.
The Growling Tigers are in hot water for allegedly violating government health and safety protocols when they holed up in Sorsogon to train beginning in June, when it was still prohibited to do so, as part of their preparation for UAAP Season 83 and other tournaments.
Mr. Ayo resigned from his post on Sept. 5 amid the investigation being conducted.
The UAAP, however, did not issue any sanction yet on UST, taking note of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHEd) move to conduct its own investigation on possible violations by the school and other individuals who may also be liable in the conduct of the alleged bubble.
On Monday in a press teleconference, the CHEd said it would be issuing a show-cause order to UST to give the latter the chance to explain why a sanction should not be imposed on it.
The UAAP said it “will follow these developments before discussing the next action on the case.”
Mr. Ayo spent two seasons with the Espana-based school, leading the Growling Tigers to a finals appearance last year.
In the aftermath of the alleged training bubble by the team, UST saw the core of its men’s basketball team dissipate, with players deciding to play elsewhere.
Former captain CJ Cansino is now part of the University of the Philippines while Rhenz Abando, Brent Paraiso and Ira Bataller are now with Colegio de San Juan de Letran at the National Collegiate Athletic Association. – Michael Angelo S. Murillo.
