Ateneo rookie Jared Bahay during a game against La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo rookie Jared Bahay wasn’t pleased with his performance despite tallying a career-high 22 points in a loss to rival La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Bahay brought out his best UAAP game yet, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and tallying four assists and two rebounds only for the defending champions to complete a season sweep of the Blue Eagles for the first time since 2013.
“Twenty-two points pero I’m not happy about it because most of it hindi galing sa system namin,“ Bahay told reporters after Ateneo’s 80-65 loss Saturday night at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: UAAP: Kevin Quiambao resets career-high in La Salle rout of Ateneo
Jared Bahay after his career-best 22 points went for naught. #UaapSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/nQITdIc2kd
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 26, 2024
“It’s a great game in a loss. Hindi ako happy sa outcome pero it’s a great learning experience para sa team and we hope we can bring these to the following games.”
Despite the loss, the Ateneo point guard relished their rivalry game against La Salle, which also needed a career-high 33 points from reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao.
“It’s such an honor na maging part ng rivalry din. La Salle and Ateneo have been rivals since wayback, ang sarap sa feeling na makasama ka dun. There are great players na part rin nun,” Bahay said.
Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin liked the progress of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu product but emphasized his points of improvement as a leader, needing to be “a guy that leads his team rather than tries to carry his team.”
READ: UAAP: Jared Bahay, Kristian Porter embrace challenge of leading Ateneo
“Forthsky (Padrigao) went through it, SJ Belangel went through it, Matt Nieto went through it, but none of them were featured freshman players. They had each other to learn from, and Jared doesn’t have that,” Baldwin said. “He’s having to kind of go into the kitchen where it’s hottest and try and learn, and he’s playing better, but we need a great point guard out of him, not just a good scorer in the point guard position.”
Bahay is embracing the challenge as Ateneo tries to make one last push in its bid to make the Final Four.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement, I’m gonna work on it and sana I’ll get there,” said the 19-year-old guard. “Sabi ni coach Tab he’s proud of us pero we have a lot to learn pa, kailangan pa naming mag stick to the system kasi sabi niya hindi kami consistent sa part na yun.”
“I think we still have the chance. We’re gonna push more sana makuha namin. We’re gonna work hard para makuha namin. I’m not gonna let my seniors Chris and SQ down, gusto ko pa sila makasama maglaro pa,” he said.