BICOL-LCC coach Aldin Ayo is counting on his veterans to deliver for the squad in the coming Chooks-to-Go MPBL Invitational.
“I treat them as responsible individuals because of their age. They are mature, literally, and in terms of their approach towards a game,” Ayo said. “They are matured with the physical aspect.”
The league founded by senator and presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao is set to launch its Invitational tourney from Dec. 11 to 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay under a stringent closed-circuit format, with the players and officials, all of whom must be fully vaccinated, restricted in movement from their homes to venue, and vice versa.
Aside from the Volcanoes, completing the stacked 22-team field are newcomer Negros Mascuvados, Datu Cup champion San Juan, Laguna, Caloocan, Sarangani, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Imus, Makati, General Santos, Bacolod, Marikina, Iloilo, Muntinlupa, Bacoor, Manila, Pasig, Valenzuela, Mindoro, Bulacan and Basilan.
Ayo’s former wards at Letran like Mark Cruz, also a former pro, McJour Luib, and Jamil Gabawan, and his former players at University of Santo Tomas like Zach Huang and Kent Lao will lead Bicol-LCC’s bid.
They will be backstopped by former PBA players Chico Lanete, Mark Yee, and Mac Tallo, and former Lyceum standouts Jayvee Marcelino and Ralph Tansingco.
