SAN Juan Knights-Go for Gold is holding out hope that NLEX will allow Mike Ayonayon to play for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) ballclub once the Lakan Cup resumes.
San Juan team manager Chris Conwi said the Knights are now at the mercy of the Road Warriors after the 6-foot guard was activated for the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup.
"Pwede pa naman siyang maglaro sa amin kung hindi conflict sa PBA. Yun naman ang usapan namin eh, to finish the MPBL season," the executive told Spin.ph.
"I hope payagan siya ng NLEX."
Ayonayon, who was selected third in the first round of the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft, was enlisted in NLEX's roster after veterans Larry Fonacier and Cyrus Baguio begged off from joining the Clark bubble.
The 27-year-old is expected to be a big boost for the Road Warriors, adding to their loaded guard rotation led by Kiefer Ravena and Kevin Alas.
NLEX knows what kind of player it is getting in Ayonayon, who was the Finals MVP in San Juan's Datu Cup conquest last year.
This season, Ayonayon continued to showcase what he can do, averaging 12.0 points on 42-percent shooting, to go with 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals for the Knights.
San Juan is currently tied with Makati in the North Division Finals, with deciding Game Three and the rest of the playoffs postponed back in March due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
As a non-professional league, the MPBL's resumption remains in limbo pending the clearance from the government.
Conwi, though, said Ayonayon was firm in his commitment to San Juan, which is looking to win back-to-back MPBL crowns.
"He wants to finish the season and win a championship for us basta't papayagan siya ng NLEX," he said.
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