ALDIN Ayo offered no excuses as University of Santo Tomas succumbed to the pressure late against a seasoned Adamson squad 79-71 on Saturday to drop to 1-2 in the UAAP Season 81.
The Growling Tigers were pretty much within striking distance up until midway through the fourth where the experience of the Falcons finally showed up.
For Ayo, that was pretty much the story of the game.
“We played like rookies. Our inexperience manifested during the game especially that crucial stretch. We were not able to observe the rules dun sa depensa and our decision-making in playing offense. Yun ang naging problema dun eh,” said Ayo.
“Pero I told the kids naman na you cannot teach experience. If you work hard, if you simulate things, if you do it during the practice or if you simulate it on and off the court, maha-handle mo mga ganung situations eh,” he added.
Used to being on a team that puts pressure on opponents, the role was reversed on Ayo as his Tigers committed 27 turnovers, most of which coming in the crucial stretch of the game.
Ayo said that there were instances where they were able to solve it, but reverted to their bad habits when push came to shove.
“We did it, kaya lang problema lang yung decision-making nga pag andyan na yung press. Pag mga beterano, pag andyan na yung gusto nila yung press e. Pag rookie, pag andyan na yung press natataranta na e. Pag pumasok na siya sa utak mo maiintimidate ka na e,” said Ayo.
“Nung third quarter nag run kami, we overcome it. The problem is, nung nagsink in na yung pagod, yung kailanggan nmin magrotate, we had to put the rookies in, dun kami nagkaproblema,” he added.
Ayo however insists that he’s going to be backing his rookies no matter what happens.
“I’m confident with my rookies. I’ll stick with them and I’ll make sure maggrow sila sa experience nato.”
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