By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Jared Bahay is the king of Philippine high school basketball.
After leading the Sacred Heart School- Ateneo de Cebu to a Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) championship title three months ago, the superstar guard was then named the best high school player in the country by the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) last March 7, 2023.
Bahay’s dominant CESAFI outing propelled his rank to heights including a clutch performance during the grand finals against the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy (CBSAA).
The five-foot-nine guard turned heads after displaying a consistent level of play as a member of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team last year.
Bahay had a terrific stint with the national team and became the most consistent player during the 2022 FIBA Under-16 tournament and the Under-18 Asian championship.
Coming in at no.2 is Luis Pablo, the current forward of the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) competing in the Philippines National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Ranked no. 3 is Rein Jumamoy of the National University Bullpups, a savvy floor general impressing in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
Completing the top five is explosive scoring guard Andy Gemao of Letran, and LSGH’s bruising center, Seven Gagate.
This is the first recognition by the NBTC since 2020 when they awarded Rhayyan Amsali of the San Beda Red Cubs with the achievement.
19 other young stalwarts made the NBTC list headlined by Mike & Matt Nieto’s younger brother LeBron, Matthew Rubico of LPU, and SJ Moore of Arellano.
