Forthsky Padrigao did not get to see how the Tigers’ season ended.
The ex-champion was ejected in the fourth quarter of their Final Four clash with UP after elbowing UP’s Quentin Millora-Brown in the stomach while trying to get over a screen with 3:24 remaining.
Although the game wasn’t over at that moment, Padrigao already felt the weight of the loss, shaking his head in disbelief.
Padrigao only returned to the Araneta court at the end to join his teammates in singing the UST hymn, marking the end of the team’s best run since Season 82 and his second postseason defeat since Ateneo’s finals loss to UP in Season 84.
Despite falling short, Padrigao fulfilled his promise of a Final Four appearance to UST.
However, the star point guard did not want his promise to end with an ejection and a subpar performance, scoring just seven points, including a frustrating 1-for-6 from beyond the arc. Padrigao vowed to come back stronger and change all of that next season
“Babalik ako. After that exit? For sure na babalik ako,” he said. “I think my teammates and the Thomasian community don’t deserve that performance from me. Kailangan ko bumawi next season.”
Padrigao finished eighth in the MVP race, accumulating 58.71 SPs after averaging 8.79 points, 6.0 assists, 3.29 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in his first season with the Growling Tigers.
However, Padrigao acknowledged that he needs to be more consistent in Season 88.
“Next year, just prepare more, be more consistent personally kasi throughout this season ako, personally, up and downs, inconsistent. So I think my team needs me to be consistent coming next season,” he said.
Padrigao praised the performance of the Tigers, who were outmatched in experience by UP.
“I think we played well na naman. Well, there were some mistakes pero I think we put up a-good fight, we gave UP a run for its money,” he said.
As the Tigers head home with a bronze medal, Padrigao is confident that this year’s finish will bring back UST’s winning culture and will be enough to keep it alive in future seasons.
“It showed naman naman talaga kanina kung ano pa ‘yong kailangan namin as a team sa game na ‘yon. We hope to (bounce back) next season para ready na kami sa ganitong situations at games,” he said,
“I won’t say it was a successful season, but I think it’s a step in the right direction.” With reports Venerando P. Pagaduan VII
