Jared Bahay leaves UP, seeks new home

Jared Bahay has decided to withdraw his early commitment to play for the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, the team announced on Friday, Jan. 5.

In an official press release by the school’s Office for Athletics and Sports Development, UP acknowledged the 5-foot-11 guard’s change of heart and his decision to weigh his options beyond the school.

The top-ranked senior high school player jumped over the fence to the other side of Katipunan and committed to the Fighting Maroons in April last year before graduating from the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and leading the school to its successful title defense in the recently concluded CESAFI Season 23 juniors tournament.

“In the last two years, the UP MBT and Jared Bahay have developed a special relationship. We envisioned a common future with Jared handling the reins of a championship-caliber team. We believed in his immense talent and capacity to lead,” said UP OASD Director Bo Perasol.

The school pointed out “outside forces” that eventually swayed the 18-year-old to have a change of heart.

“It is with a heavy heart that we respect his decision. A man should be at liberty to choose his own destiny. Godspeed and the best of luck to him,” said Perasol.

“The ‘J-House’ has a new home. We hope the ‘J-House’ will always be home, wherever that be.”

Bahay was supposed to be eligible for the Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87, a remarkable addition to the rebuilding UP team whose championship campaign fell flat last season.

The Cebuano was hailed as the best of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) 2023 class, becoming the first non-UAAP and non-NCAA player to achieve the feat.

With Bahay’s departure from the UP side making rounds on social media, fans have been speculating that he will remain as an Atenean and will see action for the Blue Eagles — one that is seriously looking to beef up their rotation.

While the State U managed to return to the finals before falling to eventual winner De La Salle, Ateneo suffered a nasty blow and only finished fourth last season.