Jared Bahay took matters into his own hands in the clutch to lift Ateneo de Manila University to a 71-67 win over University of the East on Wednesday.
The rookie from Cebu stepped up because he had the blessing of Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin to take over when it mattered most.
Down 60-65 with four minutes left, it was Chris Koon and Andrew Bongo who brought Ateneo within one point with back-to-back conversions.
Then, Bahay took over despite a rough shooting night, going 1-of-8 from the field before his late-game heroics.
The 19-year-old product of SHS-Ateneo de Cebu first nailed a sidestep triple to give Ateneo a 67-65 lead with 1:07 remaining.
Devin Fikes responded for UE to tie the game, but Bahay attacked once again.
Showcasing his versatility, the shifty combo guard drove past Rainer Maga, then spun around Fikes for a layup. Fikes initially blocked the shot, but it was called goaltending, putting Ateneo up for good.
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“I’m happy being able to make the shots, and Coach Tab (Baldwin) trusting me to take those shots is a big confidence booster for me,” Bahay shared.
Despite being a rookie, Baldwin trusted Bahay with the chance to close the game – and he delivered.
Bahay is no stranger to being a team’s go-to scorer. He led SHS-Ateneo de Cebu to a three-peat in the CESAFI high school basketball tournament.
That’s why, despite his earlier struggles, he never lost confidence.
“It’s about trusting myself and having the confidence to take those shots because I know I can make them. With Coach Tab’s blessing, I took them – and made them,” Bahay added.
Ateneo’s win improved their record to 4-9, effectively playing spoiler to UE’s Final Four hopes.
