Long before the season started, the Ateneo de Manila University faithful knew the ceiling of the partnership that Jared Bahay and Kristian Porter could offer to the table.
Their connection got cut for a brief period of time due to Porter’s commitment to Ateneo de Manila High School for senior high, coupled with Bahay’s brief commitment with the UP Fighting Maroons.
Still, it turned out that all roads had led to the other side of Katipunan to form a prized 1-2 punch.
However, long before the two donned the colors for Ateneo’s men’s basketball program, their connection was heavily built on their Cebuano roots.
That partnership was in full effect as the former star duo for Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu paced the Blue Eagles to a three-game-skid-ending, 70-68 win at the expense of the NU Bulldogs.
Porter led the team with 14 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, while Bahay contributed 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, and a steal.
“Just the same as Jared, he knows the back of my hand the way I know the back of his hand. I know his tendencies, he knows mine so that’s how we just connect and bring that chemistry on the court,” Porter shared.
Bahay, who grew up in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu, revealed that their partnership began when they became teammates for Sacred Heart from the fifth grade all the way until Grade 10.
While their rookie campaigns are off to a shaky start after Ateneo joined NU and FEU for a share of last place with joint 2-6 cards, Bahay believes that they have to ‘lead by example’ to turn the fortunes of a young Ateneo squad.
“For the guys that doesn’t know ‘no, me and Ports have been teammates since grade school,” the 20-year-old point guard shared.
“So parang we know each other well and I know how he moves, he knows how I move, so that relationship really helps us in this game and for our upcoming games.”
He continued, “We got to be connected and lead by example. For example, Ports and I, we have great chemistry and then we’re gonna show our teammates how great it is and hopefully, they’re gonna buy in.”
After the first round, head coach Tab Baldwin emphasized the need for his players to better manage the pressure that comes with being a Blue Eagle – especially in Porter’s and Bahay’s evident struggles to start their respective UAAP campaigns.
Acknowledging that the pressure will never go away with donning the Ateneo colors, Porter does not allow this negative feeling to get into his head with the trust that Baldwin, his other coaches, and his teammates give.
“Pressure is never gonna go away, especially being a rookie playing heavy minutes. I don’t really let it get to my head, especially coach Tab, all the coaches, teammates – they put their trust in me,” the 19-year-old center revealed.
“So I don’t really feel the pressure because I know they’re behind me and they got my back. How I handle that pressure is I look at it in a positive way to push me beyond my limits.”
For Bahay, the top rookie for two years in a row in the National Basketball Training Center rankings, he would rather focus on the extra duties given to him in leading a young Ateneo squad, while also improving on his own game to bolster their slim Final Four hopes.
“I saw a post last night that says ‘pressure is privilege.’ Yun lang, accept ko lang kahit rookies kami, may duties kami sa team, and we’re gonna bring this forward to our upcoming games and we’re gonna play it game by game,” Bahay concluded.
