FIVE years removed from the infamous "Sorsogon Bubble," Mark Nonoy admits that he still feels that he and coach Aldin Ayo have unfinished business to take care of.
And with the speedy 5-foot-9 playmaker testing the waters in the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft, he couldn’t help but salivate on the idea of a possible reunion with his former mentor, just now, in Converge.
“Siyempre, tatay ko yun eh,” Nonoy said of Ayo when asked about the possibility of being selected by the FiberXers in the annual rookie selection proceedings.
Once a Tiger, always a Tiger
The duo made great memories in their brief time in University of Santo Tomas, with Nonoy winning Rookie of the Year honors and the Growling Tigers reaching the UAAP Season 82 Finals before finishing as bridesmaids to Ateneo.
Though the pandemic and subsequent exodus of the players from Espana cut that partnership short, Nonoy shared that the bond between them still lasts up to this day.
“Marami kaming pinagdaanan sa UST, up and down, pero yung communication and relationship namin, kahit nagkahiwalay kami, ok pa rin,” said the 23-year-old aspirant.
Nonoy went on and transferred to La Salle, where he won a UAAP crown in his final year in Season 86, solidifying his status as a winner entering the draft.
“Dagdag lang sa confidence yung naabot ko, pero marami pa akong gustong patunayan sa sarili ko kaya dito sa PBA, sobrang excited lang ako,” he said.
Now, Ayo has a chance to make that journey come full circle for Nonoy if Converge calls his name up the stage.
But that doesn’t mean that the La Carlota, Negros Occidental native is closing his doors for other teams to draft him.
“Ako, kahit saang team naman, kung anong kulang, yun ang gagawin ko,” he said. “Pero kung open si coach Aldin, bakit hindi, 'di ba?”
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