“Since we’re going to compete internationally, nandoon lagi yung sitwasyon na underdog ka, so nasa mindset mo palagi na yung maliit na bagay, yung mga pwede mong gawin na extra na di ginagawa ng teams na malakas, gagawin mo. Since underdog tayo, dapat mas grabe ang effort and mas motivated tayo than the teams na mas malakas sa atin,” he said.

Manila Chooks TM will be bannered by Joshua Munzon, Alvin Pasaol, Santi Santillan, and Troy Rike, the core four which made exceptional performance during the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup in Calamba last month.

Ayo will get a fresh start in the halfcourt game as the new coach of the PH team for the 2020 FIBA 3×3 World Tour Doha Masters. 

It is a surprising turn of events for the exiled mentor especially after the controversial end to his term as the head coach of the UST Growling Tigers.

“Things happen for a reason. Right now. I’m blessed na nandito ako sa Chooks-to-Go family na I believe dahil sa mga nangyari, it led me to this,” Ayo added.

Ronald Mascarinas, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 league owner, called Ayo his “personal choice” concerning with how he was selected when he was introduced last Monday.

It’s a new challenge for the Sorsogon-born mentor, yet his coaching principles won’t change even if it’s a different basketball discipline altogether.

“One thing na nag-fascinate sa akin sa 3×3 is yung wala silang coach, na magre-rely sila sa individual capabilities ng players. Pero ngayon ko nalaman na may coach naman pala,” he said.

“Sa akin, kahit noong nagko-coach ako sa regular 5-on-5 basketball, yun ang goal ko na, you train the team and train them well until you reach the point that your players don’t need you anymore. If you reach that point, that means well-trained talaga yung team mo, and it will happen here.”

Sudden as his hiring was, Ayo still believes that effort isn’t just expected but required, and he is stern in telling his new wards what he wants.

“You train hard, make sure na maganda yung practice plan, and make sure na ma-absorb ng players yung pinapagawa mo, and when the competition comes, they won’t need you anymore.”

“May chance kami as long as maganda ang preparations. Importante ang preparations kasi mas talented ang mga makakalaban natin, so we have to be more ready and more prepared.”