WITH COACH PIDO BEHIND HIM, PADRIGAO GETS BACK ON TRACK WITH UST

LAST time Forthsky Padrigao played in the UAAP, he was the lead guard in Ateneo's coronation as Season 85 champion.

It was December 19, 2022 at the Araneta Coliseum.

He finally returned to the Philippines' premier collegiate league two years later, only now, he's among those at the forefront of University of Santo Tomas' quest to return to relevance.

It was September 8, 2024, also at the Big Dome.

PHOTO: Sherwin Vardeleon

The 5-foot-11 playmaker tallied five points, seven assists, and six rebounds in 22 minutes of action in his first game back in the UAAP. More importantly, he was a key contributor to the Growling Tigers' strong start to Season 87.

"Overall, I'm really happy kasi nasimulan namin yung season na napanalunan namin first game namin. Sana, magtuloy-tuloy," Padrigao told reporters following their 70-55 romp over UE.

READ: Cabanero, UST send statement with convincing victory vs. UE

"Masaya kasi nakabalik na ako. Excited ako sa team namin kung ano yung pwede naming ipakita this season, especially since nakapag-prepare kami nang maayos."

Up next for him and his mates in black and gold are the Blue Eagles, a matchup that had been marked in many calendars - if not his very own.

"We're now going to focus on our next game, which is, yun nga, Ateneo. Yun na ang paghahandaan namin, as we take it game-by-game lang," he said.

Leaving the nest

Back in 2022, Padrigao was runner-up to MVP Malick Diouf of the University of the Philippines. Throughout that Blue Eagles title run, however, off-court issues hounded him even as he broke out as one of the country's most promising young guards.

Then in that offseason, he had to deal with academic problems before ultimately deciding to leave the blue and white nest.

PHOTO: Marlo Cueto

Where was the former Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout going to continue his career? Where was he going to get another shot at proving himself, not only as a player, but as a person?

UST's wide open arms embraced him, despite all the controversy surrounding him.

"Siya ang lumapit sa amin and he said he wants to have a second chance after everything that has happened to him. We're a Catholic school and who are we to judge someone who wants reparation?" said Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP, the Growling Tigers' athletic director, back then.

"Siya mismo ang nag-effort para i-prove na pinagsisisihan niya yung mga nagawa niyang ipakita na natuto na siya sa mga pagkakamali na yun."

Fast forward to today and the now-22-year-old is filled with nothing but gratitude for getting to march forward with his young career.

Even better, what matters most to him is to make sure he proves UST right - while also proving his naysayers and non-believers wrong.

"Talagang thankful ako sa UST, kina father, sa mga coaches. Very thankful ako sa second chance na binigay nila sa'kin. Looking forward ako na, hopefully, masuklian ko nang maayos yung second chance na binigay nila sa'kin," he said.

"Basta naglalaro ako para sa UST, I'll just do my job. Kung ano yung kailangan kong gawin, kung ano yung kailangan nila sa'kin, yun yung ibibigay ko. Trabaho lang."

Keeping his head in the game

Padrigao's motivation to do right by his new school and squad stems from the fact that after an adjustment period, he now has the full faith of the UST coaching staff and management, as well as his teammates.

All of them are certain that he has learned his lesson, and it's now high time to get going again on his primary purpose as a player; which is to, well, play.

"Walang distractions sa'min when it comes to Forth. Paano magkakaroon? Iba ang sa labas, iba ang sa basketball. Ang lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya, basta basketball, yun ang gusto mo, so yun ang alagaan mo, mahalin mo," said fiery mentor Pido Jarencio.

"Yung problema sa labas, wala na yun. Saka bata pa siya noon. Iba na naman ngayon. Lahat ng players namin, nasa focus. Alam nila yung responsibilities nila rito."

PHOTO: Sherwin Vardeleon

After all, amidst all the outside noise, Jarencio has one simple rule when it comes to entering the Growling Tigers' lair: you have to be one for UST.

"Basta madali kausap, basta gustong tumulong sa UST, basta nasa puso, yun lang ang sa'kin. Anghel ang dating sa'kin ng mga 'to e. May mga bilog 'to sa mga ulo nila," he said, as he was joined by Padrigao, Nic Cabanero, and Mo Tounkara in the post-game press conference.

Of course, not many will be able to see Padrigao as an angel. No thanks to the rocky road he himself chose to take from Katipunan to Espana, he is sure to have the toughest of times garnering fans and followers.

That doesn't matter to him, though. All he wants and needs is the family and friends who stayed beside him throughout his ordeal in the last two years.

As he put it, "Unang-una, nagpapasalamat ako sa mom and dad ko kasi ever since, nandyan sila. Si Erika, yung girlfriend ko, nung nagsimula lahat, nandyan pa rin siya. Introvert akong tao e and I just keep my circle close, so malaking bagay sila sa'kin."

Padrigao's personal history will always stay with him, without a doubt. But so will his family and friends, who will now be joined by all the Growling Tigers.

He may no longer have that many fans, but he does seem to be back on track to make noise once more. Hopefully, for all the right reasons, this time.

2024-09-08T12:15:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd