JERRICK Balanza denied the notion Aldin Ayo holds him in high esteem that he vigorously pursued his former player at Letran to join him at Converge.
Balanza said he and Ayo only worked together with the Knights for a season.
“Marami ngang nagsasabi sa akin favorite ka ba niyan dati? Pero sabi ko one year lang naman kami nagsama niyan sa Letran. That year, rookie lang ako. 18 years old lang ako and hindi rin naman ako gaano nakakalaro,” recalled the 26-year-old forward.
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That union of course, produced an NCAA men’s basketball championship for the Knights in 2015 after which, Ayo left the school and took his act to De La Salle.
But perhaps he did see something so special in the eyes of Ayo that the FiberXers tried to work out a trade for his services, not just once but twice.
Their last attempt eventually bore fruit as NorthPort agreed to send Balanza to Converge for Allyn Bulanadi.
“Siguro kaya gusto niya ako, nakita niya na yung laro ko sa PBA, and nakita niya, pasok ako sa sistema niya,” Balanza said.
So far, Balanza is unbeaten in two games with the FiberXers in the season-ending Governors’ Cup as the team notched its second straight win by outlasting Terrafirma Dyip in a high-scoring game, 130-115.
Despite the strong start, the 6-foot-3 forward said he is still in the process of re-learning Ayo’s system.
“Ang hirap ng adjustment ko. Buti nga yung mga teammates ko and assistant coaches, mababait din sila,” said Balanza. “Hindi rin naman ako tumitigil. Talagang makulit ako sa practice namin. Madami akong tanong kasi alam ko si coach Aldin sobrang detalyado ang sistema nun. Kaya nag-a-adjust pa rin ako.”
To keep himself attuned with Ayo’s system, he personally watches game tapes of the FiberXers’ games.
“Siyempre nakakalaban rin namin sila, napapanood namin yung plays ng Converge (before), so alam ko kung saan pupunta (ang play). Ang hindi ko lang alam kung kailan ako pupunta sa spot ko,” Balanza said.
“So andun pa rin yung adjustment ko,” he added. “Si coach Aldin mahalaga sa kanya yung maliliit na detalye kaya ina-aral ko talaga siya para hindi ako magkamali.”
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