MANILA, Philippines — Despite going through the birth pains of leading the rebuilding Ateneo in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, rookies Kris Porter and Jared Bahay embrace the pressure that comes with the tremendous responsibility.

Porter helped deliver Ateneo’s second win of the season, putting in the crucial baskets to escape the gritty National University, 70-68, on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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“Pressure is never gonna go away, especially being a rookie, playing heavy minutes but I don’t really let it get to my head. especially coach Tab [Baldwin], all the coaches, and teammates, they put their trust in me,” said Porter, who had 14 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

“I don’t really feel the pressure because I know they’re behind me they got my back every game, the Ateneo community so how I handled that pressure was I looked at it to push me beyond my limits.”

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“I can’t let them down so wherever I’m needed, whatever they need me to do gonna produce, provide, do it no matter what,” he added.

Kris Porter leads the Ateneo Blue Eagles past NU Bulldogs in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament second round. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Bahay, who had 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists, said that “pressure is a privilege.”

“I will accept the pressure even if we’re rookies because we have duties on our team,” said Bahay, who overcame a 3-of-14 shooting. “And we’re gonna bring this forward to our coming games and we’re gonna play it game by game. Well, I’m really thankful to be put in this position.”

READ: UAAP: Kristian Porter powers Ateneo past NU in close win

Porter, an Ateneo high school product, said they also learned from their mistakes after losing six of their seven games in the first round — the school’s worst start in the Final Four era.

“We learned from our mistakes in the past. We’re going to learn from the mistakes and the pressure, and we’re going to be an entirely different team. And that entirely different team is the team we are now, but we’re not stopping where we are. We’re going to keep improving every day in practice, on and off the court, and keep winning every day,” he said.

Bahay, a Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu product, meanwhile, looks to capitalize on his familiarity with his long-time teammate Porter to carry the momentum for Ateneo.

“We know each other well, and I know how he moves. He knows how I move and so that relationship really helped us in this game and for our upcoming games,” Bahay said. “We have great chemistry and then, we’re gonna show our teammates how great it is and hopefully, they’re gonna buy in on it. “