Highly-touted rookie Jacob Bayla saw his journey through the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament marked by both highlights and challenges.
However, his struggles proved worthwhile when his defensive prowess played a pivotal role in helping University of the Philippines draw first blood in the best-of-three championship series.
After primary defender Reyland Torres committed two personal fouls in the first quarter, head coach Goldwin Monteverde had prepared a list of six players to guard presumptive Season 87 MVP Kevin Quiambao.
Instead of moving on to the next player in the rotation, Monteverde entrusted the responsibility to Bayla – the sixth player on the list – to limit the offensive threat of Quiambao.
While the 6-foot-6 guard allowed the Gilas Pilipinas Men standout to score 14 of his 18 first-half points in the second quarter, the second half saw Bayla’s defensive talents truly shine.
He limited Quiambao to just one point on 0-of-6 shooting in the second half, with that lone point coming from a technical free throw at the 5:38 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Valley Christian High School product expressed gratitude toward his coaches and teammates for the trust they placed in him to limit Quiambao in his first-ever UAAP Finals appearance for the Fighting Maroons.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“During practice, they said that I might guard KQ. I was probably the sixth and last player on the list that was gonna guard him. Just whenever the opportunity came, I’ll always try to capitalize on that,” Bayla, who is four years younger than Quiambao, told Tiebreaker Times.
“I just thank my coaches and my teammates for trusting me. Getting that opportunity to play against one of the best players in the Philippines is just an honor. I really appreciate and cherish that opportunity,” he went on.
“It’s an honor and a blessing that I get to guard one of the best players in the Philippines, and he’s a really talented player. I am hoping and wishing that we get that dub in the second game.”
Bayla’s success in limiting the “best player in the UAAP” didn’t just rely on skill; Monteverde emphasized the heart and grit the 19-year-old rookie displayed in his collegiate Finals debut.
Looking ahead to Game Two, the multiple-time UAAP champion mentor stressed that it will take a team effort – ranging from the first player on the list to the last – to take down the Green Archers and reclaim the UAAP men’s basketball title.
Bayla’s defensive heroics helped bring UP one step closer to securing its fourth UAAP men’s basketball title and its first since the historic championship in Season 84 in 2022.
“Alam mo, for a rookie, to defend Kevin nung game, he showed a lot of heart on his first time to play sa UAAP finals, you know. For me, it’s really amazing na on his part na nagawa niya yun,” Monteverde shared.
“Well, siguro sa part naman namin ano, we prepared for kung ano yung magiging flow ng game. Kung sino yung given to defend Kevin. Like kanina, I think nag-early foul din sila Harold and Reyland so, Jacob stepped up to that role. So sa’min siguro, whichever is needed during the game, dun kami bubunot.”
