Jared Bahay hit two straight three-pointers in the final 79 seconds to lift Ateneo de Manila University past National University, 69-65, in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday, October 28, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The victory gave the Blue Eagles an elimination-round sweep of the Bulldogs and moved Ateneo closer to its first Final Four appearance in two years. It also snapped NU's four-game winning streak, dropping the Bulldogs to solo second place at 6-3, according to
For Cebuano basketball fans, the game carried an extra charge. Two of the country's finest guards from the island faced each other with the outcome on the line, and the kid from Cebu who wore blue was the one who delivered.
How Bahay won the Cebuano duel
Bahay, a two-time Cesafi Most Valuable Player before moving to Katipunan, had struggled with his shot for most of the afternoon. The game was tied at 53 entering the fourth quarter, and when Reinhard Jumamoy buried a triple to put NU ahead 62-59 late, it looked like the Bulldogs would ride their streak to another win.
Then the former Sacred Heart School standout found his rhythm at the moment his team needed it most. Bahay knocked down back-to-back triples inside the final 1:19, flipping a three-point deficit into a 65-62 Ateneo lead, as
Kieffer Alas pushed the cushion wider with another three-pointer from the top of the key, making it 68-62 with 35.8 seconds left. The rookie finished with a team-high 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
NU refused to fold quietly. Macmac Alfanta converted a four-point play to cut the deficit to 68-65 with 24.2 seconds remaining, then the Bulldogs forced Shawn Tuano into a five-second inbound violation to get the ball back with 18.6 ticks on the clock.
Jumamoy, who finished with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, had the look he wanted. His three-point attempt rimmed out, and his unsportsmanlike foul on Alas with 4.6 seconds left ended the threat. Alas missed both free throws but Ateneo kept possession, and the rookie sealed the result at the line after being fouled again.
What the numbers say
Bahay closed with 16 points, three rebounds and two steals. Mo Diassana paced NU with 17 points on eight-of-nine shooting, adding 13 rebounds and two blocks. PJ Palacielo had a rough shooting night with six points on 12 attempts, though he chipped in nine rebounds and six assists.
Afterward, Bahay refused to take a bow for his late-game shooting, saying the Blue Eagles still needed to play a full four quarters consistently. It was the kind of answer you expect from a player raised in the Cesafi grind, where humility is drilled as hard as the jump shot.
What the win means for the Final Four race
Ateneo improved to 5-4, tied with De La Salle University for third and fourth place. The Blue Eagles had already beaten NU, 87-76, in the first round, which had been the Bulldogs' most recent loss before their winning run.
Ateneo missed the Final Four in each of the last two seasons, a humbling stretch for a program that once treated the championship as its birthright. A win on Saturday would go a long way toward restoring that order.
Saturday's schedule
Ateneo faces La Salle on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Big Dome, with the winner taking sole possession of third place. NU will try to bounce back against the University of Santo Tomas earlier that day at 2:30 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
Who won between Ateneo and NU on Wednesday?
Ateneo beat National University, 69-65, on Wednesday, October 28, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, completing an elimination-round sweep of the Bulldogs in UAAP Season 89.
How many points did Jared Bahay score?
Bahay finished with 16 points, three rebounds and two steals, including two consecutive three-pointers in the final 1:19 that turned a 62-59 deficit into a 65-62 lead.
What is Ateneo's record in UAAP Season 89?
Ateneo stands at 5-4, tied with De La Salle for third and fourth places in the standings after the win over NU.
When does Ateneo play La Salle?
Ateneo meets La Salle on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, with the winner claiming sole possession of third place.