Ayo cool over stars’ Gilas stint

My players are very coachable and talented

RHENZ Abando could be part of Gilas Pilipinas.

University of Santo Tomas (UST) head coach Aldin Ayo doesn’t mind lending Rhenz Abando and Mark Nonoy to Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Ayo said Abando and Nonoy are perfect in the international game as their high-flying, helter-skelter running game could give countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia a run for their money in the biennial met set in Manila from 30 November to 11 December.

Abando and Nonoy are serving as Ayo’s top guns in the ongoing Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Abando, a transferee from Philippine College of Science and Technology, is averaging 14 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while Nonoy, a former UST Cub, registered 8.3 points and 4.5 boards per outing.

With Abando and Nonoy at the helm, the Growling Tigers managed to win four out of their first six games to stay in the thick of the Final Four hunt together with Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines (UP).

“Rhenz and Mark are very fit for international games,” said Ayo, hoping that Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) would seriously consider tapping their services.

“I really hope that they (SBP) include them in their pool.”

No formal announcement has been made, but reports floated that SBP already has a pool of young players where the 12-man roster for the biennial meet will be drawn.

Said to be leading the pool are Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero of UP, Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo, Dave Ildefonso of National University and Justin Baltazar of De La Salle University.

Aside from them, the federation is also said to be looking at tapping some standouts from the Philippine Basketball Association like June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, RR Pogoy, Beau Belga and Raymond Almazan to beef up the roster and make sure that the crown it has been holding since 1989 will be retained.

“It’s good to have both amateurs and pros in the pool because three or four years from now, they’re going to be at their peak and the country will definitely need them,” said Ayo, adding that the attitude of his w ards could be an asset to a team that has a good number of professional players.

“My players are very coachable and talented. They are a little but raw and still lacking experience, but if your trust them enough, they will surely deliver. All they need is a chance to gain experience.”