For Mike Ayonayon, playing for San Juan in the finale of the MPBL Lakan Cup is his way of showing utmost gratitude to the team that gave him a break in basketball.
Ayonayon, the third overall pick by NLEX in the 2019 PBA Draft, got the green light to suit up and fulfill his commitment to the Knights in the amateur league's season-ender which was postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"'Yung San Juan mahalaga sa akin. Kung hindi rin naman dahil sa San Juan hindi rin ako makikilala 'di ba? Give and take lang (San Juan is important for me. If not for the team, I would not be recognized. It's just a give and take process)," said the 29-year-old shifty guard.
Ayonayon has been making the most out of the opportunity to repay his team as he posted his first triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists to lead San Juan to a 131-54 decimation of the five-man Makati in the North Division Finals decider last Wednesday, March 10.
The lopsided victory propelled the Knights back to the best-of-five National Finals, which could start on March 17 pending the result of the Basilan's swab retest after two of its players tested positive for COVID.
Head coach Randy Alcantara is glad to have the much-improved Ayonayon back for the Knights' back-to-back championships bid after playing a pivotal role in the postponed season prior to going pro in the PBA.
The Datu Cup Finals MVP came through with 12.0 points, 4.6 boards, 3.8 dimes and 1.4 steals in 35 out of the 37 games San Juan played in the Chooks to Go-backed season.
"Pasalamat kami na binibigay pa rin ni Mike 'yung best niya at talagang nagpapakita siya ng maturity at leadership ngayon. Siyempre, iba na 'yung level na nilalaro niya eh (We're thankful to Mike because he's still giving his best and he's really showing his maturity and leadership especially now that he's playing on another level)," said Alcantara.
"Alam namin malaking tulong siya sa campaign namin sa Finals (We know that he'll be of big help in our Finals campaign)," he added.
Ayonayon and the Knights are just waiting for the winner of the postponed South Division Finals pitting last season's runner-up Davao Occidental against Basilan.
Basilan is still on an extended quarantine and waiting for a swab retest after two of its players turned out to be positive cases.
Should the Steel return negative results, they will be allowed to play the decider versus the Tigers on March 17. However, even a single positive result may lead to a win by default for Davao.
MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes said in a text message to Manila Bulletin that "we will base our decision on the recommendation of medical experts under DOH guidelines and health and safety protocols."