One step at a time — UST coach Aldin Ayo

By Kristel Satumbaga

University of Santo Tomas is taking it one step at a time in hurdling the steep climb to the finals of UAAP season 82 men’s basketball.

They survived the first level on Wednesday, besting Far Eastern University 81-71 to arrange the second stepladder semifinal duel against University of the Philippines.

To make it to the final round against undefeated Ateneo Blue Eagles, they must beat the Maroons twice.

“Isa lang muna ang iisipin namin,” said UST coach Aldin Ayo. “Hindi namin dapat isipin yun pangalawa, yung susunod. Kung ano ang nasa harapan namin, yun muna ang dapat naming isipin.”

Ayo said that mentality worked on their way to subduing the Tamaraws.

“Yung ginawa namin for the last 10 days, we kept our focus on FEU. Kaya siguro naka-adjust kami sa mga mistakes namin (kanina). Right now, we don’t have any idea kung anong gagawin namin sa UP. But after this win, we’re going to start preparing kaagad,” he said.

The Tigers are coming off a tough game against FEU where they blew a double-digit deficit, but Ayo said they are bringing the lessons they’ve learned in that match.

“I’ve always been optimistic sa approach ko sa mga players. You really have to be objective at walang sisihan. Even kaming mga coaches, may mga mali rin kami, but we stayed positive and kept on playing, kept on adjusting,” he said.

Ayo relies on season Most Valuable Player Soulemane Chabi Yo to steer the Tigers once again against the Maroons.

“He’s (Chabi Yo) not going to slow down. When he said he wants the championship more, he really means it,” he said.

Chabi Yo is determined to make do with his promise, saying that he wanted the championship more than the individual award.

“For me, (winning the MVP) is good, but what’s more important is the championship. Next game, we’ll do better,” the Benin-native forward said.

The Tigers downed the Maroons twice in the eliminations, but Ayo said they are treating this matchup as a clean slate.

“They are a different team right now, and yung mga nangyari sa eliminations, it won’t matter anymore because this is the Final Four. Lahat gagawin dito, so lahat gagawin din namin,” he said.

Game will be on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The knockout match, if necessary, will be on Nov. 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Source: Manila Bulletin