AFTER a forgettable UAAP Season 87 and the uncertainty surrounding the future of their head coach in Tab Baldwin in the offseason – the dark cloud that’s looming over the Blue Eagles have finally cleared hours before they played their first game in Season 88.
On Saturday morning, Baldwin was formally re-signed to a three-year contract effectively easing the worries of their current crop of young stars bannered by Jared Bahay who only found out about the extension after their pre-game mass, in the form of a surprise announcement by their president Fr. Bobby Yap, S.J.
“After the mass, our father president announced that coach Tab is staying for another three years. So I'm very happy for Coach Tab,” he said.
It very well could have been the liturgical miracle they have been waiting for as the Blue Eagles played with an extra pep in their step which led to them outlasting FEU in overtime, 86-83.
And Bahay had his fingerprints all over the win as he either scored or assisted in 16 of Ateneo’s last 20 points – including two clutch triples in overtime – to finish with 13 points, five assists and four steals.
READ: Ladi makes quite the first impression in Ateneo OT win over FEU
The Cebuano guard admitted some reservation with regard to his future with the Blue Eagles – but all of that was erased upon hearing the good news early in the morning.
“Of course, when I heard the very good news. I told myself, ‘Don't leave yet. Graduate and, you know, be with the Ateneo community, and win some championships,’” he said.
With all of the external noise out of the way, Bahay shared his optimistic conversation with Baldwin upon hearing the news.
“I told him, we're going to work together, and I'll give some championships to [the] Ateneo community.”
And based on his performance in the first game? That doesn’t sound like an empty promise and Baldwin himself knows that.
“He kind of just stopped trying to be a point guard and was a guy that could put the team on his shoulders and get them across the finish line when necessary,” Baldwin said.
“But anybody who doubted his talent now understands why he is as good as he is.”
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