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Jared Bahay gets real on Ateneo’s struggles midway through UAAP Season 88.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles continued their freefall to start Round 2 of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Ateneo on Wednesday fell in a 68-75 thriller to the FEU Tamaraws to open the second and final round of eliminations, with Most Valuable Player candidate Janrey Pasaol and veteran Jorick Bautista hitting big shots down the stretch to keep the Eagles at bay.
Sophomore guard Jared Bahay was quick to take accountability after the game, knowing that the Eagles failed to play as a team against the resurgent Tamaraws.
“I think this loss is on ours na, and pinagusapan namin after is to stick together, to play together, and hindi lang maglaro individually,” Bahay, who returned from a one-game absence, told The GAME in a quick interview.
As a silver lining, the guard did make his return from a one-game absence, logging three points and one assist in 13 minutes of action. While he will be on a minutes restriction for now, Bahay assured that he’s well enough to continue his comeback for the Eagles.
“Okay naman, feeling better from the injury, and I think I am 80 percent to full health,” said Bahay when asked about the left shoulder injury.
From a 4-0 start to Season 88, the Eagles now hold a 4-4 win-loss record and will look to get back on the winning track as early as Sunday, October 26, against the league-leading NU Bulldogs.
Bahay reiterated that team play will be key if he and Ateneo look to rediscover their winning ways late into the elimination rounds.
“Yung pinag-usapan sa dugout I think is nagkukulang kami sa playing together and more on naglalaro kami individually. So yeah, in the next game, ipapakita namin na team kami and we’re a good team,” he reflected.
“We have to have that energy sa start pa lang ng game — na we’ll be the one to hit first and take that first punch.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.