CENTRAL Visayas succeeded in its mission to dethrone the fancied National Capital Region in basketball last Saturday, thanks to spitfire playmaker Jared Bahay.
It was a dream stint for Bahay, the No. 1 high school player in the country, who led the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu cagers to a nail-biting 77-73 decision over the Big City bets for the gold medal in the boys’ secondary basketball tournament of the 63rd Palarong Pambansa before a big crowd at the Marikina Sports Center.
“Wala akong masabi. No. 1 team na kami ngayon sa buong Pilipinas,” Bahay, who committed to suit up for University of the Philippines in the UAAP, said. “Ang sabi lang ni coach (Rommel Rasmo), if you want to be the best, you have to make your teammates the best. Nag-facilitate muna ako kasi naka-focus sa akin ang depensa ng NCR.
“Nag-facilitate muna ako and I made my teammates the best. Right now, we’re the best team,” added Bahay, who has committed to play for University of the Philippines.
Bahay, 17, scattered 29 points, including 10 in the payoff period, as the Magis Eagles completed a gritty fightback from a 10-point deficit. He was named MVP of the high school cage war.
Bahay boomed in a clutch long two-pointer that gave Central Visayas a 75-73 cushion in the last 40 seconds that broke the hearts of the NCR, represented by the Nazareth School of National University.
“On my mind, ang sabi ko, moment ko ito. Ako ang titira,” Bahay said of his dagger of a basket. “Matagal ko na itong pinapangarap na maging champion sa buong Pilipinas.”
Rasmo said his charges’ golden triumph– their first since 2013 in Dumaguete against the NCR– was worth all the hard work they put in their campaign.
“Actually, that’s part of our talk last night that the last time Central Visayas won the Palarong Pambansa was 10 years ago, and it just so happened na kami din noon,” he said.
“We’re so grateful for this blessing, 10 years hindi kami nag-champion pero binigay pa rin sa amin.”
