In his guesting on Mikee Reyes’s Straight-Up online show, the former Tiger shared how Coach Aldin was on and off the court mentor.

The now UP Maroons’ player Cansino still holds his former head coach with the utmost respect.

“Tuturuan ka talaga kung ano yung para sa future. Yung relationship namin parang father and son. Sinasabi niya lahat ng dapat mo gawin na kelangan may disiplina. Sasabihin niya kung ano yung makakabuti talaga sa ‘yo,” said the former Growling Tigers skipper.

“Minsan, nagpupunta kami sa bahay nila sa Cubao. Kumakain kami dun. Buong team, nanonood kami ng movies din. Mga ganung bagay,” he added.

Moreover, Ayo personally recruited Cansino for UST during the off-season of UAAP Season 81.

Ayo and Cansino was a match made in heaven as the 6-foot-2 utility guard proved to be one of the key players in UST’s campaign in UAAP Men’s Basketball.

After losing a chance to get the title in Season 80, the Growling Tigers was just a game away from making it to the Final Four a year later before reaching the Finals in Season 82.

Cansino shared that giving their all in every game was the result of seeing Ayo working tirelessly for them.

“Makikita mo kasi kung paano magtrabaho kaya as a player, sasabihin mo hindi ako puwede na simple lang.”

“Kasi kung magtrabaho siya, hindi natutulog yun. Grabe! Kaya mahihiya ka na lang sa sarili mo na pag hindi ka magtrabaho, paano ko maapply yung mga tinrabaho ni coach. Grabe yung dedication niya sa basketball. No sugarcoating eto. Grabe. UAAP last season, every after game nagtratrabaho yun. Viewing mga ganun. Grabe magtrabaho yun,” recalled Cansino.

Furthermore, Cansino also acknowledges Ayo’s equal treatment to all his players. 

And despite looking the part, Cansino swore that Ayo never berated his players in practices.

“Actually, hindi ko masabi na may favorite siya. Yung relationship niya sa team, parepareho rin talaga. Hindi masyado nagmumura si coach. Lahat kami pinapagalitan.”

“Si Coach Aldin, lalo pagka sa players wala ka masasabi. Sobrang bait ni Coach Aldin.