FORTHSKY Padrigao had the last laugh against Ateneo, his former school, as his UST Growling Tigers ended a nine-year losing streak against the Blue Eagles in their UAAP Season 87 first-round encounter on Sunday.
Facing Ateneo, where he secured a championship in Season 85, Padrigao delivered six points and a game-high nine assists, helping break UST’s 17-game losing streak against the team that had lasted over nine years.
Although now competing against his old team, Padrigao downplayed the significance of the Tigers’ victory, noting that the team approached the game just like any other.
“Familiar faces, pero…tinrato namin itong laro na ito kung paano namin itatrato yung mga susunod na games. Halos same lang e, kasi focused kami sa preparations namin and to win games moving forward,” he said postgame.
Following a standout season at Ateneo where he averaged 11 points, 5.5 assists, 4.36 rebounds, and 2.36 steals, finishing second in the MVP race and winning the championship, Padrigao’s career faced controversies. On July 22, 2023, Ateneo officially parted ways with him, citing unmet academic requirements.
Padrigao said Tab Baldwin, then his Ateneo coach, had advised him to concentrate on his studies and do what was necessary.
Since then, Padrigao said his interactions with Baldwin and Ateneo have been minimal.
“I think huling usap namin [ni Coach Tab] was sa phone last season, then itong summer, nag-usap ulit kami,” he told the Varsitarian. “But this season, we’re not talking anymore kasi si Coach Tab ‘yon e, and we’re playing against each other now, so we understand.”
No bad blood
Before and after the game against Ateneo, Padrigao said he had a brief catch-up with Baldwin and his former teammates.
“Kumustahan lang. Casual lang na usapan,” he said.
Baldwin praised Padrigao for his performance against Ateneo, stating that there were no hard feelings between him and his former team.
“He’s good. He’s a good player, we know that. There’s no feelings in basketball… He’s got his job to do for the UST now. He did a great job tonight, won the game, and was an important part of that,” Baldwin told the Varsitarian.
“He’s got the better of us, so we’ll have to make sure next time that doesn’t happen.”
Accustomed to winning, having secured four championships with Ateneo in the UAAP, Baldwin acknowledged that Season 87 season is a new experience for him and his team.
He described this year’s Blue Eagles as very young and said he expected some losses as part of their growth.
“This is a very young team, so they have to realize that what’s important right now is that they’re learning lessons, developing their understanding of the UAAP, and understanding what they’ve got to do to be successful,” he said.
“We’re going to take some losses, I guess, as part of that learning curve we already have. So the important thing is that we’re learning. If we do enough of that, the wins will come.”
Ateneo’s last loss to UST was on Sept. 26, 2015, during the second round of Season 78. Since then, Ateneo has won four championships.
Although the Tigers have yet to achieve similar success yet, Baldwin said this year’s UST team is displaying potential as serious contenders.
“It’s not a new-look team; it’s a veteran team. And they’re good, they’re composed, they’ve got good leadership on the court with both Forthsky and Kyle Paranada and Geremy Robinson,” Baldwin said.
“All of them give good, heavy, senior leadership. They play hard. And Tounkara is legitimate; he’s a good player.” Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon
