Resigned UST men’s basketball team coach Aldin Ayo was ordered banned indefinitely by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
The ban involves barring the embattled coach from “participating, in any capacity, in all UAAP events and UAAP-sanctioned activities,” the UAAP said in a statement released yesterday.
The order was an aftermath of the supposed “Sorsogon Bubble” controversy, wherein the former coach brought his players to a bubble training camp in Capuy, Sorsogon as early as June when Luzon was still under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) status.
“The ban is based on the UST report that showed Ayo endangering the health and well-being of the student athletes under his charge when he conducted the training during a government-declared state of public emergency intended to arrest the COVID-19 outbreak,” the statement read.
Ayo already resigned as head coach. He later issued an apology to “those who have been adversely affected” by the controversy and for exposing the university to “much condemnation.”
Even UST athletic director Fr. Jannel Abogado tendered his resignation when his name appeared on the alleged waiver for the controversial training activity.
News of the training bubble came about when former UST Growling Tigers men’s basketball team captain CJ Cansino departed from the team and moved to the University of the Philippines.
Details about the training bubble were revealed by Cansino using screenshots of message exchanges between players and their parents in a group chat.
As soon as reports about the controversy broke out, other UST players such as Brent Paraiso, Ira Bataller, Jun Asuncion and Rhenz Abando decided to leave the team.