By MARK REY MONTEJO
Veteran mentor Tab Baldwin definitely knows a thing or two about coaching and seeing Jared Bahay gradually adjusting to the intensity of the UAAP game is something that he truly recognized.
However, basketball isn’t all about scoring, which the seasoned tactician hopes that Bahay could explore while playing as a Blue Eagle.
“I think you’re seeing more and more of the player Jared Bahay is. Obviously, he’s going to improve, but he’s actually settling into this level of competition more than it is anything in terms of real improvement…,” said Baldwin.
“I just think he’s getting more comfortable at this level of competition, and he’s showing what he’s capable of at the offensive end,” he added.
The 66-year-old Kiwi-American coach stressed that he is looking for more, specifically leadership which Bahay can provide aside from his offensive prowess.
“We need better leadership, we need better defense, and we need him to be a guy that leads his team rather than tries to carry his team,” he continued. “Because there’s times when he’s trying to make the tough play, and he shouldn’t be,” he added.”
Bahay, 19, recently tallied his career-high 22 points, leading the squad in its scoring department in their 80-65 loss to rival La Salle (10-1) over the weekend.
Despite being a rookie, the Cebuano guard has been one of the key factors for the youthful Ateneo, providing ample support in scoring, passing and rebounding departments along with their mainstays.
And Baldwin understood how big the pressure is for Bahay, which was also experienced by his former players in the likes of Forthsky Padrigao, SJ Belangel and Matt Nieto.
The problem is Bahay doesn’t have what the trio had in the past: learning from fellow guards.
“That’s where he’s going to grow and evolve as a basketball player. He’s going to be much better at becoming the type of guard that extracts better basketball from his whole team, not just from himself,” he added. “They had each other to learn from. Jared doesn’t have that.”
“He’s having to go into the kitchen where it’s hottest and try and learn. He’s playing better, but we need a great point guard out of him, not just a good scorer in the point guard position,” he concluded.
Ateneo (3-7) will try to return to its winning ways when it battles UP (8-1) this Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Mall of Asia Arena.
