Ever since committing to Ateneo de Manila University early this year, Jared Bahay has already trained with the Blue Eagles for a couple of weekends.
Yes, he flew from Cebu to Manila just to get acclimated to his college.
“Siyempre, Ateneo and I are starting to build a relationship,” said the top high school-ranked player by the NBTC for the second consecutive year. “It’s the most time for me to be away from Cebu and fly out here. I’m out of my comfort zone.
“I’m just trying to build relationships.”
During the time he has spent at Loyola Heights, the 18-year-old floor general was surprised that he, along with Ateneo’s new recruits, was training alongside the school’s A-team.
Apparently, he and his batchmates will not have any preferential treatment.
“Siyempre, iba kasi si Coach Tab is one of the best coaches here in the Philippines and one of the best programs yung Ateneo. Iba talaga yung sistema ni Coach Tab compared sa amin sa Cebu. Ang masasabi ko is kaya ko naman,” he continued.
“Si Coach Tab, pinupush ka niya talaga. Bini-build talaga niya and he doesn’t treat you like a rookie.”
Helping Bahay in his transition to Ateneo are his fellow Magis Eagles in Kristian Porter, Michael Asoro, and Raffy Celis.
But for now, he wants to punctuate his stay at Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu with the title that has eluded them — the Smart-NBTC National Championship.
“Siyempre, mas motivated. We have another chance to redeem ourselves this year.”
With reports from John Paul Manahan
