UST point guard Forthsky Padrigao said he will approach the Tigers’ next game without any additional motivation, even though he will be facing his former team, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, for the first time.
Following UST’s rousing 70-55 win against UE in its Season 87 opener, Padrigao said he and the team would treat their Ateneo clash just like any other match.
“Same thing lang kung paano namin inapproach ‘yong game na ‘to,” said the ex-Ateneo guard. “We’re gonna prepare and watch the film.”
Padrigao had an outstanding debut for UST, recording five points, seven assists, and six rebounds in his return to the UAAP.
Padrigao last played for Ateneo in Game 3 of the Season 85 finals, where the Ateneo Blue Eagles captured the championship against the UP Fighting Maroons.
That season was Padrigao’s career best, as he averaged 11 points, 5.5 assists, 4.36 rebounds, and 2.36 steals to finish second in the MVP race, losing narrowly to UP’s Malick Diouf.
However, the star guard’s career was marred by controversies, and on July 22, 2023, Ateneo officially gave him the boot, citing his failure to meet academic requirements.
Padrigao said he hopes UST’s victory against UE marks the start of a new winning culture, which he said he is committed to building.
“When you join Ateneo, there’s a culture that’s already established,” he told the Varsitarian. “So here in UST, parang, panibagong challenge kasi we’re trying to build a culture here.”
“Ngayon, wala pa talaga. We’re really building on it, kasi ang hirap gumawa ng culture; it’s not gonna happen overnight, lalo na kami, halos lahat kami bago. So, dahan-dahan lang kami, practices, big preparation, tapos sa games.”
For Padrigao, creating that culture starts with developing strong team chemistry.
This chemistry was on display during the Tigers’ season opener, where they recorded a total of 24 assists, with Padrigao responsible for seven, often setting up his new frontcourt partners Nic Cabañero and Mo Tounkara. Cabañero led the team with 14 points, while Tounkara added 13.
Padrigao credited the team’s enhanced connection to their offseason trip to Korea in early August, where they played six tune-up games against KBL teams during an 11-day visit.
“I think ‘yon ‘yong pinaka crucial para sa amin. Hindi lang siya nag-build ng chemistry sa amin on the court, but more importantly is ‘yong off the court,” he said.
“Doon nagsimula ‘yong samahan namin. We have Fil-Ams, we have Filipinos, mahirap paano mag me-mesh agad ‘yon. Yung Korea trip, ‘yon talaga ang tumulong sa amin talagang mag-mesh well together.”
For Padrigao and the Tigers, the win over UE is just the beginning of a new era for UST.
“We’re just gonna keep on building, one game at a time kami. Just gonna focus on our next game which is Ateneo [Blue Eagles], kumbaga ‘yon naman yung pag-iispan at paghahandaan namin sa susunod,” he said.
Padrigao and the Growling Tigers will look to carry their momentum against the Ateneo Blue Eagle at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. with reports from Venerando P. Pagaduan VII and Rafael Paolo P. Salaya
