By MARK REY MONTEJO
Jared Bahay and Kymani Ladi delivered when it mattered the most and steered Ateneo to a pulsating 86-83 overtime win over Far Eastern University in the opener of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Down by six in the extension, 74-80, Bahay displayed nerves of steel as he drilled back-to-back triples to level that game with more than a minute left before catching the ball – off Janrey Pasaol’s turnover – and passed it to Ladi for an 82-80 lead.
Ladi, then, took charge after hitting a wide-open triple off an assist from Divine Adili with 4.2 seconds remaining. Jorick Bautista sank a hard-contested trey to cut the deficit to just two, 85-83.
But the Tamaraws’ efforts in the waning seconds fell short, as Bahay iced the game with a free throw and a crucial steal, sealing a strong opening win for Ateneo despite Shawn Tuano missing a couple of free throws.
It was a fitting result for the Blue Eagles, as head coach Tab Baldwin signed a three-year contract extension with the team earlier that day.
Bahay finished with 13 points, three rebounds, five assists, and four steals, while Ladi debuted with 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one block.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity, my teammates brought out the best in me, I love my first UAAP game,” said Ladi.
Dominic Escobar starred as well for the Baldwin-mentored crew with 16 points, while Jaden Lazo added nine points for Ateneo.
Pasaol and Bautista, who forced overtime with a jumper that tied the game at 74-all, posted 24 points each in a losing cause. Mo Konateh delivered a dominant defensive performance, grabbing 23 rebounds to go along with 11 points and two assists, to no avail.
Earlier, FEU-Diliman and Adamson bested their respective rivals to also kick start their title bids auspiciously in the junior high school boys’ basketball tournament.
Prince Cariño and Dwyne Enriquez formed a lethal 1-2 punch as the Baby Tamaraws foiled Ateneo Blue Eagles’ late rally, 91-80.
Not to be left out, the Baby Falcons put Enzo Parugganan’s 28-point effort to waste by carving out an 85-69 win over the La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers.
Cariño and Enriquez, who finished with 30 and 25 points, respectively, struck hardest in the third that saw them uncork a telling 17-4 blast that ballooned their lead to 22, 77-55.
The Blue Eagles never recovered from that jolt.
Domeng Ngo and Sky Jazul combined for 30 points in a losing cause for Ateneo.
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) – Pasaol 24, Bautista 24, Konateh 11, Felipe 7, Montemayor 6, Daa 4, Owens 3, Mongcopa 2, Ona 2, Macapagal 0.
Quarterscores: 24-22, 40-34, 61-55, 74-74, 86-83
