Pao Javillonar almost played for Aldin Ayo at UST — now they get to link up in Converge

Pao Javillonar revealed that Aldin Ayo had tried recruiting him to join the UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP, but he had to turn him down as he was already with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde at the time.

Javillonar, though, wasn't able to continue his stint with the Blazers and instead went to Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He made his debut for the Knights during the NCAA Season 95 before going on to win three titles with the team.

Now, five years later, Javillonar will finally get to play under Ayo after he was selected 19th overall pick by Ayo and the Converge FiberXers during the PBA Draft on Sunday.

"Hindi pa (kami nagsasama before) pero nu’ng bago mag-college kinukuha niya na rin ako for UST pero at that time, nasa Benilde na ako so nag-focus lang muna ako kung nasaan ako," Javillonar shared.

"Siguro ito na ‘yung perfect time, God’s timing na maging coach ko siya kasi isa rin siya sa mga gusto kong maging coach kasi sobrang detalyado niya and madami akong matututunan sa kanya."

[Not yet, but before I got to college, he was recruiting me to UST but at that time, I was in Benilde already so I just focused on where I was... I guess this is just the perfect time, God's timing that he'll be my coach because he's one of those I wanted to be my coach because he's very detailed and I'll learn a lot from him.]

Javillonar's arrival at Converge further bolstered their height and might as he is tipped to join a loaded frontcourt with reigning Rookie of the Year Justin Arana and top overall pick Justine Baltazar, both of whom are familiar faces for Javillonar.

He and Baltazar played together in high school for National University while Arana is a good friend of his.

"Si Balti naman sobrang idol ko na since high school days and sa NU nagkasama rin kami, siya ‘yung senior ko and kumbaga doon ako nasimula mahasa sa depensa," Javillonar shared.

"And si Justin naman tropa ko rin siya so magiging tandem kami kasi agile bigs and pwede kami magsabay-sabay."

[Balti is my idol since high school days and we played together at NU, he was my senior and that's where I started to improve on defense... And Justin is a friend so we'll be a good tandem because we're agile bigs and we can all play at the same time.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News