Is 'Mayhem' coming to Mendiola?
With San Beda University letting go of head coach Boyet Fernandez and his coaching staff, a few names have surfaced as the Red Lions look for replacement with four months left before they plunge back into action in September for NCAA Season 98.
Reports have it that Aldin Ayo is one of the frontrunners to take over the San Beda coaching reins — and the champion tactician himself said he's willing to accept should the offer present itself.
"Opo. MVP 'yan kaya grateful ako sa opportunity just in case," Ayo told GMA News Online. The San Beda program is backed by sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan.
"Isa ako sa mga options pero hindi pa confirmed."
Ayo, of course, is no stranger to the San Beda community.
It was he and his Colegio de San Juan de Letran squad who denied the Red Lions a rare six-peat as he steered the Knights to the 2015 title. Prior to that, San Beda copped the title from 2010 to 2014.
Ayo then jumped ship to a different collegiate league to man the sidelines for De La Salle University from 2016 to 2017 before bringing his act to University of Santo Tomas the following year.
He resigned from his post at UST in the wake of the controversial 'Sorsogon bubble' in 2020.
Over at San Beda, a new head coach will inherit a relatively young squad bannered by James Kwekuteye, Peter Alfaro, JB Bahio, and Ralph Penuela as well as a couple of promising rookies from last season in Rhayyan Amsali, Yukien Andrada, and Jacob Cortez.
The Red Lions finished the elimination round in unfamiliar position - sitting in third place with a 7-2 win-loss card - before facing Mapua University in the Final Four on the wrong end of a twice-to-beat advantage.
They won the first game in overtime before eventually succumbing in the next match to the Cardinals as San Beda failed to reach the finals for the first time since 2005.
—JMB, GMA News
