Ayo faces sanction on bubble controversy

MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas coach Aldin Ayo faces possible punishment for the alleged “Sorsogon bubble” by the Tigers that was in direct violation of government protocols.

Sources said the UAAP Board of Managing Directors has recommended to the league’s Board of Trustees the lodging of a sanction on Ayo.

“He (Ayo) will be sanctioned,” said The STAR source after the UAAP BMD tackled the issue in a meeting that lasted more than three hours yesterday. “This is still for recommendation to the BoT composed of eight UAAP university presidents.”

Though there’s no mention whether it’s a suspension or banishment, there’s a separate report that Ayo may be heading back to Letran, the team he steered to the 2015 NCAA championship in his rookie season as head coach.

At press time, there’s also no word on whether UST will be meted a separate sanction.

National University, whose women’s volleyball team is being probed for potential violation of Inter Agency Task Force guidelines, was also not mentioned.

Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines assured its full cooperation to any possible inquiry on the alleged training of its basketball team in Silang, Cavite during the pandemic, according to coach Bo Perasol.

“We will fully cooperate with the UAAP or any government agency should they decide to further investigate,” Perasol told The STAR after UP became the latest collegiate squad to face such accusations.

UST and NU were the first UAAP squads to face alleged violations with their reported training camps in Sorsogon and Laguna, respectively.

Multiple reports surfaced Wednesday night, citing the alleged UP team training in Cavite in July.

But Perasol was quick to deny, saying it was only a one-time shootaround with UP center Bright Akhuetie on their own court.

“We only had a shootaround on our court but it was only me and Bright,” said Perasol, denying any team training. “That was the time Bright visited and slept in our house. I and my nephew were there to just pick up the ball off Bright’s shots.”

UP’s case is expected to be tackled in a meeting of a government body composed of representatives from the Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Health, Games and Amusements Board and Commission on Higher Education.