ALL eyes may be on Ateneo's one-and-dones, but this is still Jared Bahay's team.
The sophomore Cebuano guard atoned for his missed game-winner at the buzzer and made the big plays late to rescue the Blue Eagles in an 86-83 overtime thriller over Far Eastern University to open its UAAP Season 88 men's basketball campaign on Saturday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Bahay brought the blue-and-white back to life in the extra period, draining back-to-back treys to tie the game at 80 before setting up Kymani Ladi for the go-ahead bucket with 59 seconds to play.
Ladi, the much anticipated forward in Katipunan, continued to put the pressure on the Tamaraws by knocking down his own three from the top with 10.1 ticks, but Jorick Bautista refused to quit, banking a trey of his own to make it an 85-83 affair with 4.2 left.
Still, this was Bahay's game to seize, canning the technical freebie before swiping the ball away from Mo Konateh off Shawn Tuano's missed freebies.
Blue Eagles rising
Bahay scored seven of his 13 points in overtime, turning his game on when it mattered most, as he also collected five assists, four steals, and three rebounds.
It was also a strong first impression for Ateneo's super seniors led by Ladi's 26 points on 3-of-7 shooting from deep, on top of nine boards and three dimes.
Also introducing themselves to the league were Dom Escobar, who ignited the Blue Eagles' fast start with 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals, as well as Jaden Lazo who went 3-of-6 from distance for his nine points.
"It looks like its gonna be that kind of year," sighed just-extended coach Tab Baldwin after that grueling first game.
READ: Ateneo extends Tab Baldwin for three more years
"Proud of the team stepping to the job and getting across the finish line. This game was won on talent and not on tactics and coaching ability, but it's not the kind of performance that's indicative of the team that will get to the playoffs."
The slim defeat spoiled Bautista's late heroics in the fourth quarter where he tied the game at 74 after burying a gutsy fadeaway over the outstretched arms of Andrew Bongo with 1.5 seconds left.
FEU was also in a prime position to take the victory after grabbing an 80-74 lead with 2:30 left on the clock before Bahay took matters to his own hands down the stretch.
Janrey Pasaol flirted with a triple-double with 24 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds. Bautista also scored 24 on a tough 3-of-10 clip from distance, and Konateh grabbed 23 boards to pair up with his 11 points, two assists, and two blocks.
The Scores:
ATENEO 86 - Ladi 26, Escobar 16, Bahay 13, Lazo 9, Adili 7, Espina 5, Bongo 5, Tuano 3, Ong 2, Lazaro 0, Espinosa 0, Gamber 0, Nieto 0.
FEU 83 - Bautista 24, Pasaol 24, Konateh 11, Felipe 7, Montemayor 6, Daa 4, Owens 3, Mongcopa 2, Ona 2, Macapagal 0.
Quarters: 24-22, 40-34, 61-55, 74-74, 86-83.
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