When the Call Came, Jacob Bayla Answered

After struggling to contain Jacob Cortez in the previous game, the UP Fighting Maroons knew adjustments had to be made. In a UAAP Finals series where every possession carries weight, even subtle changes could tilt the balance. This time, the responsibility fell on Jacob Bayla. Not to outscore the other team’s Jacob, not to force the spotlight, but to slow Cortez down. Possession by possession. Moment by moment.

Bayla didn’t begin the game on the floor, but his mindset was already set.

“Just being ready whenever my name’s called,” he shares with ALL-STAR.

“You know, I didn’t start today, but just bringing that fuel and that fire for the team, and that heart, that grit, just whenever my name was called.”

The decision wasn’t random. UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon explained that the staff knew what Cortez could do if left unchecked.

“We know Jacob Cortez obviously is a talented player,” Luanzon said. “He can break you down, especially from isolations.”

UP had seen this situation before. Last season, in another high-stakes moment, Bayla was asked to guard then-league MVP Kevin Quiambao. The result left an impression on the coaching staff.

“With Jacob, similar to last season in a way, game 1 if you remember, he really helped us when he guarded the MVP of the league in Quiambao and he made a difference in that game.”

Against Cortez, the adjustment was deliberate.

“Tonight, what led to that decision was we wanted more length on Jacob,” Luanzon explained. “Bayla is always up to the challenge.”

For the once highly sought-after prospect out of high school in California, the assignment required more than effort. It required preparation.

“I guess just watching film,” Bayla explained.

THROWBACK: Our rookie profile on Jacob Bayla.

“I don’t watch a lot of film. And I’ve been watching a lot of his games, so just figuring out what he’s good at, what he’s not. But he’s a really good player.”

That preparation wasn’t done alone. Behind the scenes, Bayla was constantly communicating with the coaching staff, particularly on the defensive end.

“He and Coach Tom Chua, it’s just non-stop communication,” Luanzon shared. “What you like about Jacob is he’s not afraid to speak his mind. He’s always open to listening to Coach Gold and Coach Tom on the defensive end.”

When the matchup finally happened, Bayla knew stops wouldn’t come easily. Cortez would score, and Bayla accepted that reality without letting it shake his focus.

“He’s a good player, and he’s gonna hit shots,” Bayla said.

“Just not be too down when he hits shots, but also get fired up when he misses, because that’s a stop for our team.”

It wasn’t about shutting Cortez down completely. It was about surviving each possession, forcing tougher looks, and treating every miss as momentum for UP.

Bayla’s minutes were marked by composure. No chasing highlights. No frustration. Just staying connected and trusting the game plan.

That belief went both ways.

“We just gave him that trust in that matchup,” Luanzon said.

Bayla’s energy off the bench became a quiet spark, fueled by grit, discipline, and readiness. The kind that doesn’t always show up in the box score, but matters deeply in games decided on details.

In a game defined by adjustments and effort, Jacob Bayla showed that defense starts long before the ball is inbounded. It starts with preparation, communication, and embracing responsibility when your team needs it.

And on this night, when the call came to guard Jacob Cortez, Jacob Bayla was ready.