Jared Bahay leads Central Visayas past NCR for Palarong Pambansa basketball crown

Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s Jared Bahay of Central Visayas. –JUNE NAVARRO

Jared Bahay was built to last in games like these.

Nursing a strained knee, the star point guard of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu spearheaded Central Visayas’ thrilling title victory over host National Capital Region in the secondary boys basketball of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa on Saturday.

Bahay nailed the pivotal go-ahead basket and Wilhelm Josh Go iced the win, 77-73, before a silenced and stunned pro-Metro Manila crowd at Marikina Sports Complex.

“That clutch shot was my moment. It was my time,’’ said Bahay in Filipino after firing 29 points, highlighted by sinking three of his four threes early in the first period.

Backing up Bahay, who already committed to the UP Fighting Maroons in the collegiate ranks, were Alden Paul Cainglet and Rezald Joshua Dacalos, who contributed 11 and 10 points each.

Bahay hurt his left patella, underwent magnetic resonance imaging before getting cleared, and was told to rest the injury for two weeks prior to the Palarong Pambansa.

“Thank God I didn’t suffer a tear, but still I’m not in my best shape. I just joined a week before the games and attended only four practices,’’ said Bahay.

Elijah Yusi and Carl Alfanta scored 16 each and Juancho Palanca added 11 for the National University-powered NCR squad.

The 18-year-old Bahay knotted everything at 73 after Alfanta pushed NU ahead before the 5-foot-9 playmaker took matters into his hands and made it count.

“I knew we were capable of beating them. We were patient. They are way taller than us, so we maximized our speed and pushed the ball up,’’ said Bahay.

Dethroned NCR avenged the stinging defeat in the boys’ division by trouncing Central Visayas, 72-53, in the secondary girls category.