COLUMN: BAHAY OFFERS ASSURANCE AMID FEARS OF ANOTHER EAGLE TAKING FLIGHT

CHICAGO - In the wake of Mason Amos' sudden departure from Ateneo, a transfer that tilted the balance of power in the UAAP, there is growing speculation that another star is about to exit Katipunan.

In the center of that rumor storm is Jared Bahay, previously the country's No. 1 high school player and seen as a foundational piece of the storied Blue Eagles program for the next five seasons.

The Ateneo de Cebu alum and former Gilas Pilipinas cadet confirmed the rumors swirling around him Wednesday night and faced it head on.

READ Mason Amos has this to say after coming under fire for La Salle move

"I know there are rumors going around about me moving. I am staying," Bahay told me.

Last Monday, Bahay posted, "We few. We happy few" on his X account, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. That didn't stop the whispers from growing increasingly louder.

LOOK:

And that is why Bahay felt the need to set the record straight to placate an anxious fan base and to assure Ateneo of his commitment.

The persistent, relentless pursuit of Bahay by other parties is not a surprise. The 19-year old is a game-changer, cat-quick and equipped with all the point guard tools plus a shooting range that covers beyond the 3-point arc.

And while he intends to satisfy his five-year eligibility at Ateneo, the knocks on his door will probably never go away. Talent attracts suitors. It's a fact of life.

PHOTO: Filoil Preseason

Although it clearly was a shock to the system, once the smoke settled, Amos' flight to La Salle did little to fracture the Blue Eagles. If anything, it galvanized them to hunker down to an 'Us against the world' mentality.

Business tycoon and chief Ateneo backer Manny V. Pangilinan met with the Blue Eagles on July 2 at the PLDT offices in Makati where MVP assured the troops of his continued support.

Meanwhile, Ateneo reiterated that it bears no bitterness toward Amos or any other player for that matter who wished to exit the program.

"Bukas ang pinto," the official, who requested anonymity, told SPIN.ph. 

"The goal is to keep our players in school throughout their playing years. We don't keep them just because of basketball. That's why hindi namin pinipigilan ang mga gustong umalis lalong lalo na dahil lamang sa basketball."

It's a pragmatic outlook on an ever-changing UAAP climate where constant player movements are becoming the norm.

In the end, the freedom of choice rules at Ateneo. Student-athletes' wishes always come first.

2024-07-03T16:07:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd