Ayo joins DLSU; Kerby to Letran?

MANILA, Philippines – While FEU and UST are engaged in a battle for the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball crown, some of the teams left in their wake are making big moves to bolster their coaching personnel.

La Salle, which missed the Final Four, has virtually come to terms with Aldin Ayo, the champion coach from Letran, to take over the helm following the resignation of coach Juno Sauler.

Adamson is also on the move as website Spin.ph reported that the Falcons are negotiating with former DLSU and PBA coach Franz Pumaren in an effort to turn their fortunes around next season.

A third team – Ateneo – is searching for a new mentor as well as Bo Perasol left after three seasons with the Blue Eagles.  

Ayo, according to sources, was already introduced to the Green Archers in a dinner last Wednesday night and is one official announcement away from formally assuming the reins.

Ayo is expected to bring his “House of Chaos” – the term media used to call his “disruptive basketball” style that reaped success in the NCAA – over to a UAAP squad that’s seeking to regain lost glory.

With Ayo moving to La Salle, Letran has also started its search for a possible replacement for the coach who steered the Knights to the recent NCAA championship.

Ayo officially bid Letran goodbye at its Intramuros campus yesterday in an emotional meeting, paving the way for the school’s top officials to officially start its search for a possible replacement.

Letran alumnus and former PBA star Kerby Raymundo heads the early roster of names for the coaching post.

“The first name that came out was Kerby Raymundo,” a source told The STAR yesterday.

The Knights are using the same winning formula they did in selecting Ayo.

Like Ayo, Raymundo is a Letran alumnus and was the top player and a teammate of the former when the Knights won back-to-back NCAA championships in 1998 under coach Louie Alas and 1999 under Binky Favis.

Meanwhile, the Falcons are reportedly poised to tap a “big-name” mentor to lead the team that last reached the semis four years ago.

According to Spin.ph, Pumaren looms as the strongest candidate to replace interim coach Mike Fermin.

Frankie Lim and Ronnie Magsanoc are reportedly also considered for the post.