It was a baptism of fire for former UP commit and now-Ateneo recruit Jared Bahay, facing jeers from the Fighting Maroons crowd to start his UAAP career in Season 87.
UP veteran point guard JD Cagulangan had choice words for spirited fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as they hurled jeers at former UP commit Jared Bahay after the latter suited up for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their UAAP Season 87 opener on Saturday night.
During the pre-game broadcast, Bahay was shown on the Big Dome jumbotron and was on the receiving end of boos from the Maroon side of the stadium.
This treatment continued on in the opening stages of the game.
For those unfamiliar with the context, Bahay had initially committed to play for UP before ultimately transferring to Ateneo prior to his college enrollment.
[Related: UAAP: Jared Bahay settling well in Ateneo after de-commitment from UP]
The point guard played his high school career with Ateneo affiliate school Sacred Heart in Cebu.
“First of all, I feel bad for Jared kasi nung lumabas yung mukha niya sa screen, yung ibang fans nag-boo sakanya which is ang pangit ng simula niya sa UAAP,” said Cagulangan.
“Wala naman akong against kay Jared kung maglaro siya sa kung anong school,” he added.
As expected in rivalry games, fans were very involved from the get-go, with Ateneo fans also throwing boos at UP sophomore and former Blue Eaglet Francis Lopez as well.
The jeers happened shortly after the UP supporters heckled Bahay.
But as far as the men’s basketball team is concerned, Cagulangan said that there is no ill will between the Fighting Maroons and Bahay, especially since they also shared the court for preseason tournaments prior to Bahay’s eventual transfer to Ateneo.
“Ang gusto ko lang malaman niya ay yung team ng UP, wala kaming problema sakanya. Kung san niya gusto, walang problema. Happy lang ako para sakanya na nag-debut na siya sa UAAP,” said Cagulangan.
As one of the outspoken leaders of the Fighting Maroons, Cagulangan also urged the fans to stop taunting their foes in that way. For him, it was something that soured what should’ve been an exciting entry for Bahay into the UAAP.
“Sana sa fans na nag-boo kay Jared, sana itigil na natin yun kasi ang sama talaga. Ang sama nung pasok niya sa UAAP. Ganun kaagad,” he said.
[Related: JD Cagulangan, UP Fighting Maroons trump new-look Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 87 opener]
Cagulangan and Bahay led their respective teams in the rivalry game, and even as the latter emerged victorious with an all-around performance, the Fighting Maroon did not hold back on the praise for the blue-chip recruit.
“Maganda rin naman yung performance ni Jared and sana magtuloy tuloy yung ganon. Grateful ako na nakakaharap ako ng mga ganitong players.” said Cagulangan.
While Cagulangan was outspoken about the incident, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin and Bahay himself remained tight-lipped about the whole encounter in their post-game interview.