Humblebola

By: Eriko Dela Cruz

2024 is almost a week old yet the New Year fireworks are still going off in the college basketball offseason.

The biggest and brightest of the fireworks are going off around Jared Bahay, the number one high school player according to the National Basketball Training Camp (NBTC) who has reportedly withdrawn his commitment from the UP Fighting Maroons. Right after winning his second straight title in the CESAFI Juniors with the Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, rumors began sprouting out from the woodworks that the graduating guard may not be keen on continuing with his commitment to Diliman after all. It did not help that Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin was there watching.

How good is Jared Bahay exactly? So good that the former Fighting Maroons head coach and current program director Bo Perasol felt the need to release a statement about the situation. In a league where transfers and changes of heart happen often and to anyone, even to the best of stars with nary a quote, Jared Bahay got what could be seen as the college basketball equivalent of a breakup message from UP.

Here, we’re going to dissect the statement to analyze the possible undertones tucked between the line.

In the last 2 years, the UPMBT and Jared Bahay have developed a special relationship.

Jared committed to the UP Fighting Maroons in March of 2023. That was less than a year ago. While it’s possible that the Fighting Maroons have been grooming their relationship with the high schooler long before announcing his commitment, why is there a need to say this? To pressure the kid into thinking he owes the University something? To make the University he ends up playing for look like a home-wrecker of sorts? Tearing apart this special months-long relations. It could have started with a statement of fact but starting with an appeal to emotion is not a good look here.

We envisioned a common future with Jared handling the reigns of a championship-caliber team. We believe in his immense talent and his capacity to lead.

Jared is the number one high school player in the country, standing out even among his peers at Batang Gilas. Any team he plays for would get a steady point guard who can shoot from anywhere, has tremendous court vision, and has leadership skills on tap.

Not all things go according to plan.  Although we have remained steadfast in our commitment to Jared, outside forces have intervened for him to have a change of heart. 

Another statement that shades Jared and his future University. An appeal to emotion that paints the UP Fighting Maroons as victims in this situation who got spurned, where there should be no victims in the first place. It’s college basketball. It’s not that serious. Furthermore, while we are on the topic of OUTSIDE forces, Jared is from ATENEO DE CEBU. Unless this is part of the UP system, or UP is under the Ateneo system, it’s the UP Fighting Maroons who are the outside forces trying to take Jared Bahay in.

It is with a heavy heart that we respect his decision. 

As anyone should. Moving on…

A man should be at liberty to choose his own destiny.

This is something that all people should realize, regardless of university or league. No one is indebted to any institution that they study at and play for. That has been the case since, and that is how it should be in the future. The Student-athlete Protection law passed by Senator Pia Cayetano should be enough proof of this. The law applies to everyone, including the good senator’s alma mater which is a supposed bastion of Honor and Excellence.

We wish him well and are looking forward to exciting matchups in the Battle of Katipunan.

Now this is what rubs me, the author the wrong way. This last part, they have taken away Jared’s and his family’s capability of being the first to announce where he continue his basketball journey. Wherever he decides to go should come from HIM, not from third parties. And in the event that Jared goes anywhere else not named Ateneo, it becomes very erroneous at best.

Overall, it is in my opinion a statement designed to absolve the UP Fighting Maroons and make the other side (Jared and the University he plans to join) look quite bad. Knowing that this came from a University official and not a fan is even more concerning.