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    Troy Rike, Aldin Ayo leave UAAP feud behind ahead of 3x3 team-up

    Once rivals, Troy Rike and Aldin Ayo now on the same side with Chooks 3x3
    Nov 13, 2020

    REMEMBER when Troy Rike and Aldin Ayo found themselves at odds?

    Rike, then playing his one-and-done year for National University in 2018, took exception to the heightened level of physicality in his side's UAAP Season 81 duel against Ayo's University of Santo Tomas.

    That led a word war, with Rike calling out "sneaky, dirty plays" from the Growling Tigers and Ayo retorting that the comments were "unfair."

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    Although cooler heads prevailed, the exchange gave a bit of a color to the short stay of the Fil-Am banger with the Bulldogs.

    Fast forward to 2020 and now, Rike and Ayo will be on the same side after the latter was named as the head coach of Manila Chooks TM for the 2020 Fiba 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters.

    It's easy to see the uncomfortable nature this new partnership brings, but as Rike put it, it's all water under the bridge. All he wants is to continue winning as their 3x3 unit flies to Doha for the first time this season.

    "It's a good new direction," said the Philippines' No. 5-ranked 3x3 player.

    Rike also said that he has only respect for Ayo, a winner in every team he's been with, and the 6-foot-8 center expects nothing less from the controversial coach in the 3x3 circuit.

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      "He's obviously had a lot of success in college and I'm excited to see the ideas, the physicality, and the toughness he can bring here," he said.

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