Jared Bahay put Ateneo de Manila University on his back to spoil Precious Momowei-less University of the East’s yet-another attempt to enter the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Final Four, taking a 71-67 win on Wednesday night at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The rookie out of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu first gave the Blue Eagles back the lead with a booming trey with 1:07 left, 67-65, but was eventually tied by Devin Fikes with a layup.
Then Bahay got the advantage back with a huge spin before going for a layup that was blocked by Fikes. However, he was called for goaltending for the 69-67 lead for Ateneo.
In the ensuing play, Rainer Maga got a wide-open layup after creating space with his eurostep with 11 seconds left, however, it rimmed out, leading to Sean Quitevis’ two made free throws, his only points, on the other end to ice the game for the Blue Eagles with 8.5 ticks to go.
“There is more than just pride to play for. There’s the uniform that we wear and trying to live up to the standards that is expected of us by our community, by our teammates, and by ourselves. I was just very happy with the team today because they played with so much effort and resolve,” said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
This victory ended the Blue Eagles’ three-game slump to improve to 4-9 in their first game since getting eliminated in the Final Four race for the first time since 2013.
The Red Warriors saw their bid to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2009 derailed once more, going down to their fourth-straight defeat.
UE fell to 6-7, now tied with the University of Santo Tomas for third. The Growling Tigers hold the tiebreak advantage due to win over the other rule.
Andrew Bongo led the way for Ateneo with 15 points and six rebounds while Shawn Tuano had 13 points, four rebounds, and two steals.
Chris Koon added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Joshua Lazaro also had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.
“I’m happy being able to make the shots and coach Tab trusting me to take those shots is a big confidence booster to me,” said Bahay, who ended up with 11 points, none more important than those five in the clutch.
Ateneo will close out its campaign on Nov. 23 against Adamson University at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Maga paced the Red Warriors with 15 points, while John Abate chipped in 11 points.
Stepping up in the absence of Momowei was Devin Fikes, tallying nine points and 10 rebounds.
Wello Lingolingo (0/5), Ethan Galang (1/5), and Jack Cruz-Dumont (0/2) shot a combined 1-of-12 from the three-point line.
UE’s final game of the eliminations will be against University of the Philippines next Wednesday and it would be a win or run through the playoff for that last Final Four spot for the Red Warriors.
The Scores:
ATENEO 71 – Bongo 15, Tuano 13, oon 12, Lazaro 11, Bahay 11, Espinosa 5, Quitevis 2, Porter 2, Ong 0, Gamber 0, Espina 0.
UE 67 – Maga 15, Abate 11, Fikes 9, Lingolingo 8, Galang 8, J. Cruz-Dumont 6, Wilson 4, Spandonis 3, H. Cruz-Dumont 2, Malaga 1, Mulingtapang 0.
Quarterscores: 21-16, 40-31, 55-51, 71-67.
