A shoulder issue forced Jared Bahay to sit out the third overtime as Ateneo ran out of gas, absorbing a loss to UST in their first meeting this UAAP Season 88.
There’s something to be said about playing with heart — and Jared Bahay showed exactly that.
Despite Ateneo’s gut-wrenching triple-overtime loss to UST, Bahay’s grit stood out just as much as his decision to step back when it mattered most.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Defiant UST survives Ateneo in 3OT thriller, grabs share of Season 88 lead]
The 20-year-old guard carried the Blue Eagles deep into the marathon game, scoring eight crucial points in the second overtime that kept Ateneo alive.
But as the clock ticked toward yet another extra period, Bahay made a different kind of choice — electing not to return due to a shoulder issue.
“Honestly, hindi na ako bumalik sa third overtime because of my shoulder. There’s an issue with my shoulder and I didn’t force it,” Bahay revealed.
He finished with 17 points, 14 of which came in the first two overtimes, along with six assists and three rebounds in nearly 35 minutes.
"Big picture" J-House
Bahay made a tough decision late in the game, prioritizing the long-term health of the Blue Eagles over the immediate moment in their UAAP Season 88 campaign.
“I was looking at the bigger picture — to finish the season healthy, and I didn’t want to risk injuring myself for nothing,” he added.
[A tearful Jared Bahay sings the Ateneo hymn after the Blue Eagles suffered a gut-wrenching triple-overtime loss to UST. | Photo: The UAAP]
In the third overtime, Ateneo saw UST go on a 13-2 run before ultimately prevailing in a war of attrition between two title contenders.
"Masakit na natalo kami, pero iniisip ko talaga yung big picture — to finish the season healthy and happy, and to reach our ultimate goal: the championship,” Bahay said.
The defeat dropped Ateneo to solo third at 4-2, with one game remaining against FEU to close out the opening round.
For Bahay, the loss is already behind him as he chose to focus on moving forward with the team.
“Hindi lang ito yung important na game — every game is important for us. Move on na kami dito and start preparing for the next one,” the 20-year-old said.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.