By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Aldin Ayo will have one of his reliable guards during his collegiate coaching years when he makes his PBA coaching debut with Converge FiberXers in the upcoming Commissioner’s Cup later this month.
The FiberXers are set to acquire Aljun Melecio and Kris Porter from the Fuel Masters in exchange for rookie Kurt Lojera and Benedict Adamos. The trade is still pending for the PBA Commissioner’s Office’s approval.
Once the two-on-two deal is approved, Ayo is set to be reunited with Melecio, who played and won a UAAP men’s basketball championship with him at De La Salle University Green Archers.
Melecio, who was the 19th overall pick by the Fuel Masters in the 2021 PBA Rookie Draft, struggled for minutes during his time with Phoenix in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup where he averaged just 4.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
Melecio is heading for heavy minutes with Ayo at the FiberXers camp in the upcoming conference, while Porter will have to wait for over a month before he can play for Converge due to an injury.
Melecio also joined the growing list of former Ayo players at the FiberXers camp aside from Kevin Kent Racal, Jeron Teng, Abu Tratter and rookies Justin Arana and Jeo Ambohot.
The Fuel Masters, on the other hand, will also bolster its roster with the acquisition of Adamos after veteran forward Jason Perkins has been ruled out for the Commissioner’s Cup due to knee surgery.
Lojera, for his part, is also expected to have more opportunities with Phoenix after being rarely used during his rookie conference with the Converge under then head coach Jeffrey Cariaso.
Ayo, however, is not yet done with acquiring his former collegiate players for the FiberXers as he is also reportedly eyeing guard Renzo Subido and Leonard Santillan from NorthPort Batang Pier and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, respectively.
Subido played for Ayo during the latter’s time with University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, while Santillan was with Ayo during his two-year coaching stint with the Green Archers./PN
