Mike Ayonayon Show Coming to the PBA: Ayonayon Officially Signs with NLEX

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) must prepare themselves as the Mike Ayonayon show is about to hit the road once he's finished with his stint with the San Juan Knights who is gearing up for a match-up against the Makati Super Crunch in the North Division Finals of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

This was after the NLEX Road Warriors, the team that drafted Ayonayon in the first round of the  2019 PBA Rookie Draft last December, officially signed Ayonayon to a two-year rookie deal. This isn't a surprise considering that Yeng Guiao, Ayonayon's incoming coach in the PBA, has recently said that last year's MPBL Finals MVP is PBA-ready. While the multi-titled coach admitted the fact that Ayonayon is still active with the Knights as San Juan is looking to repeat as champions anew, Yeng Guiao mentioned that the team is very happy with what they've been seeing from their new player.   

And who wouldn't be happy?

Mike Ayonayon, in Game One of their semifinal series against the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, saved the Knights from a close defeat buzzer-beating floater.  He wrapped things up in Game Two with 13 points, four assists, and a steal to make up for his one for seven shooting from the three-point line. 

As tiring as the transition from the MPBL to the PBA is for the number three pick of the regular draft last year, Ayonayon said that he's enjoying and that, he's making the necessary adjustments to make this thing work. And fortunately for San Juan's number 18, NLEX has been supportive of his ongoing MPBL run and eventually, Ayonayon's success in the MPBL will benefit the Road Warriors especially now that JP Erram is no more with the team. 

And when that finally happens, just imagine what a Mike Ayonayon could do alongside Kiefer Ravena and a healthy again Kevin Alas. It's going to be an explosive show. 

Photo is from SPIN.ph