Espana "Mayhem" ends as Ayo quits as UST mentor

The man in question in the controversial "Bicol Bubble" has had enough of the circus, as UST head coach Aldin Ayo tenders his resignation Friday evening.

"I deeply apologize to all those who had been adversely affected by our activity and unnecessarily exposed to much condemnation especially the University," said the two-time champion coach who led the Growling Tigers to the runner-up finish in the UAAP Men's Basketball tournament last season.

Ayo, who made waves in college basketball with his relentless pressure defense trademarked as Mayhem, won two consecutive titles in different leagues, doing so with his alma mater Letran in 2015 and La Salle the season afterwards.

After leaving the Green Archers in 2017 after losing to Ateneo in a three-game series for the ages, the former Knight made his Dominican return via Espana, engineering a two-year turnaround from the horror of Boy Sablan from doormats to postseason contenders.

In fact, in his second and final campaign, UST went all the way to the championship series as a fourth-seed, falling to the unbeaten Blue Eagles who completed a 16-0 sweep.

But their preparations for season 83 hit a huge snag when CJ Cansino transferred to UP, and along with it came the controversy surrounding their preseason buildup in Sorsogon, right smack into the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After Cansino, reports surfaced that the troika of Rhenz Abando, Brent Paraiso and Ira Bataller have bolted from the den.

The fallout was severe that left Ayo with no other choice but to leave, saying that he will go for "a personal Retreat".

Last week, the man who brought Ayo to UST, Fr. Jannel Abogado, stepped down from his post as athletic director as investigators have launched a huge probe that could send shockwaves into the sporting community still haunted by the lockdown.

"I thank the UST community for their faith and continued support the team," he later said in his statement.

Photo: UAAP (FILE)