During the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Basketball Press Conference, Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin challenged young team captain Jared Bahay to develop a ‘two-way’ game — a mix of his traditional point guard duties alongside embracing a new leadership role for the Blue Eagles.
It did not even take a full week for Bahay to heed Baldwin’s call.
The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu product played a pivotal role in the Blue Eagles’ 86-83 overtime win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, achieving a strong start in the Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Saturday afternoon, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.
“I challenge him to lead the team better, and to really settle into a role of a point guard who is a coach on the floor. Jared has always had good scoring ability, and he has great leadership ability, but he has to integrate those two into how he plays,” Baldwin told reporters last Monday.
After back-to-back Jorick Bautista baskets forced overtime, Bahay showed poise beyond his years in the extra frame. He scored his own back-to-back three pointers to tie the match at 80-all with 1:06 left.
The sophomore guard’s heroics did not stop there. Bahay stole the ball from Gambian import Mo Konateh, leading to an easy assist from Kymani Ladi to give Ateneo the lead and ultimately the Blue Eagles’ first win over the Tamaraws since Season 85.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We got down [by] six. I trusted the game plan that Coach Tab gave us. I was patient and waited for open looks. Fortunately, I got those open looks,” Bahay shared after contributing 10 of his 13 points in the final 7:29 of the contest alongside five assists and four steals.
“I took the opportunity and I’m very grateful that it went in.”
A 19-year-old point guard in his second year in a highly competitive UAAP men’s basketball atmosphere being designated as team captain may seem untraditional. Still, fueled by the vision and trust of a decorated mentor like Baldwin, Bahay welcomed the challenge with open arms.
Admitting to the challenges that come with being the Blue Eagles’ skipper — especially when the 12-time UAAP men’s basketball champions are eager to recover from a dismal 4-10 finish in Season 87 — Bahay vowed to do ‘whatever it takes’ to propel Ateneo back into contention.
“Being this early, Coach Tab gave me the captaincy. I’m very honored to accept the captaincy that he gave me, and yeah, I’m just ready for whatever it takes,” the former Gilas Youth guard remarked.
“I believe what Coach Tab said this game was won between talent and not tactics, so I think we have more to show. This is not us and may ipapakita pa kami.”
