The MPBL Invitational will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena on Dec. 11 to 23 wherein Bicol is bracketed with Basilan, Laguna, Marikina, and Makati in the Invitational

While coach Ayo recognized that it will be a challenge for the Bicol Volcanoes to adjust with one another due to age differences, he affirmed that the team can manage. 

“Mas mataas ang level dito. And if you can see the players that we have here, halos cream of the crop ‘to ng mga NCAA, UAAP, Cesafi. Different approach. I treat these players as responsible individuals. They are matured already in terms of how they think at mga katawan nila, ‘yung mga tuhod nito kailangan din i-manage,” said Ayo.

“Ang approach namin sa players, individually, is depende sa kung anong meron sila, unlike college na you can treat everybody the same kasi they are in the same age bracket. Eto iba. May 42 years old, may 39, you have 21, 22 years old. Magdedepende kung sinong player,” Ayo added.

The squad will be having Mark Yee, Chico Lanete, Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, Dennis Santos, Mark Cruz, and McJour Luib. 

“Mas mataas ang level dito. And if you can see the players that we have here, halos cream of the crop ‘to ng mga NCAA, UAAP, Cesafi. Different approach. I treat these players as responsible individuals. They are matured already in terms of how they think at mga katawan nila, ‘yung mga tuhod nito kailangan din i-manage,” said Ayo.

Ayo and the team are also looking forward to recruiting homegrown players to represent the region. 

“We were planning to get two or three players na homegrown but due to time constraints, may mga players kasi na hindi nakakapaglaro, hindi ready. By next conference, for sure, we are going to get homegrown players. Kailangan naming ma-represent ang mga Bicolanos.”

“We have good players in Bicol also. So far, coaches muna ang magre-represent ng Bicol. Kami muna ni Jason Misolas (Bicol assistant coach),” said Ayo.

While it is going to be the first time for Ayo to handle and represent the Bicol squad, he proudly shared that it was his plan all along if not because of the pandemic. 

“Actually, I committed to Bicol before pandemic pa. March 12, four days before the lockdown, naka-commit na ako sa kanila” Ayo recalled.

“Ever since naman, gusto ko talaga sa Bicol eh. Kasi hindi ko nirepresent ‘yung Bicol when I was still playing, ‘yung mga Palarong Bicol, Palarong Pambansa, kasi nasa seminary ako, hindi kami pinapayagan ng mga pari. This is the first time to represent Bicol,” said Ayo, who played and coached in college with Letran.