THE Bolt that never was.
Rookie Bryan Santos was supposed to be headed for Meralco in the PBA Season 48, but instead ended up with Converge when he was tabbed by the FiberXers in the second round of last year's draft.
Coach Aldin Ayo divulged how the team was able to snag Santos in the draft despite a huge interest shown by the Bolts to have him in their team.
Santos of course, previously played for the 3x3 team of the Bolts under coach Patrick Fran.
"Actually Meralco ang kukuha dito (Santos) kasi nasa 3x3 ito ng Meralco. And they (Bolts) already had plans with him," Ayo related.
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"Ayaw niyang pumunta sa akin kasi nakausap na siya ng Meralco na papapirmahin siya," added the coach. "Pero sabi ko hindi, kami ang kukuha sa iyo. Yan ang kuwento kung bakit nandito ngayon ito."
Santos as it turned out, proved to be the thorn on the side of Meralco when it tangled with Converge Sunday night, as the 6-foot-4 stretch forward fired 22 points on a huge 7-of-10 shooting from three point range in the FiberXers' breakthrough win in the Philippine Cup, 104-99, at the Philsports Arena.
Given the right break, Ayo knows what Santos can exactly do.
"TIP pa lang ito, kinukuha ko na for UST," said Ayo. "Pero nakapunta siya ng UST. I was the one who brought him sa UST."
Unfortunately, by the time Santos got the chance to suit up for the Tigers, Ayo was no longer the man in-charge at Espana.
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But when the coach got another opportunity to get the services of Santos, he made sure he'll finally get to play under him.
"Pagdating dito sa PBA, hinanap ko," said Ayo.
Santos eventually ended up with the FiberXers and played his best game as a pro ironically, opposite Meralco.
"I've been telling him that he can play, he can shoot. As long as he does his part, I'm going to give him the green light to shoot," said Ayo of his prized rookie. (RG)
