By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Jared Bahay, the country’s no. 1 high school player from the Ateneo de Cebu, finally made his decision and chose Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) as his new home in his collegiate basketball career.
The final decision was made last January 25, 2024, after photos went viral on social media when Bahay donned the Ateneo polo jersey together with the head coach of the Blue Eagles Tab Baldwin.
Last year, the UAAP men’s basketball scene was stunned after Bahay already committed to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
However, several months ago, Bahay de-committed from the prestigious school, emphasizing that he wanted to embrace more doors and opportunities that are yet to come to him before the next UAAP season kicks off.
Bahay became the UAAP’s most-recruited point guard after leading Ateneo de Cebu to several championships at the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) high school level.
Aside from his CESAFI dominance, Bahay was also the staple ball handler of the Batang Gilas program.
Perhaps one of the most memorable career-defining moments for Bahay was during the 2023 Palarong Pambansa when he steered Cebu to the championship title after they defeated the National Capital Region (NCR) in the finals.
NCR was represented by their rival squad, the National University (NU) Bullpups while they still carry the Ateneo de Cebu school.
Despite trailing by double digits, Bahay never gave up against NCR and went unconscious in the fourth quarter of the intense game.
After his Palarong Pambansa performance, Bahay began to receive more offers other than the Fighting Maroons.
With Forthsky Padrigao and Jared Brown now out in the Blue Eagles’ lair, Bahay is expected to become Ateneo’s starting point guard in the upcoming UAAP season.
