It's all about basketball for Forthsky Padrigao in UST

UST newcomer Forthsky Padrigao in his Growling Tigers debut. Photo from UAAP Images

MANILA — Forthsky Padrigao has made his return to the UAAP hardwood. 

Following an eventful exit from Ateneo de Manila University, the 5-foot-10 guard made his debut for the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday as the Growling Tigers opened their Season 87 campaign.

READ: UST signals new start with dominant win over UE

It was a decent performance from the former Blue Eagle, with Padrigao putting up five points, six rebounds, and seven assists while donning the Tigers' golden kits against the University of the East.

"Overall, I'm really happy kasi nasimulan namin yung season na napanalo namin yung unang game," he said during the postgame presser at the Big Dome, which is, coincidentally, the last venue that he played in before missing the entirety of Season 86.

"Like what we've said, we're just gonna keep on building," he added.

Padrigao left Ateneo as a men's basketball champion. 

Describing him as instrumental to their on-court success can be considered an understatement as he was even a runner-up to the University of the Philippines' Malick Diouf who was Season 85 MVP.

However, as promising as he was as Ateneo's floor general, the opposite can be said for his off-court issues while in Loyola Heights. 

Sexual harassment allegations clouded his stay in Ateneo, with fans even expressing their disdain for him when he received his Mythical Team plum during their title run. 

READ: Forthsky Padrigao to leave Ateneo

READ: Ateneo's Forthsky Padrigao to miss UAAP Season 86 due to academic deficiency

Academic deficiencies in Ateneo were cited as the reason for being ineligible for Season 86, but he eventually departed for UST a few days later. 

READ: Forthsky Padrigao transfers to UST

-- From Katipunan to España --

"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 UST Athletic Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP, at the time, on Padrigao's move to their program. 

"Siya mismo ang nag-effort para i-prove na pinagsisisihan niya yung mga nagawa niya, at gusto niyang ipakita na natuto na siya sa mga pagkakamali na yun. Ang UST naman is there to help him reform his ways especially since he's still a kid who needs guidance."

And now that he is in España, Padrigao hopes to repay the second chance that he has with the Growling Tigers. 

UST newcomer Forthsky Padrigao in his Growling Tigers debut. Photo from UAAP Images

"Here in UST, panibagong challenge kasi we're trying to build a culture here. Sana mas maging maayos yung kung anong kultura na ibi-build namin. Sana maging okay sa mga next few games namin," Padrigao said, while also sharing the reception that he has received from his new school.

"Okay naman yung transition. Smooth naman kasi very welcoming ang teammates ko and mga kaklase ko sa school," he said. 

Nonetheless, Padrigao is preaching patience with what they are building there, especially since the Tigers are parading a roster that has nine new players including him. 

"Wala pa talagang culture eh. We're really building on it kasi mahirap gumawa ng culture. [Unlike] when I joined Ateneo, there was a culture that was established na. It's not gonna happen overnight lalo na kami, halos lahat kami bagong teammates sa isa't isa. So yun lang, dahan-dahan lang kami, practices, preparation, tapos sa games," he said.

As for his personal goals with UST, Padrigao emphasized that he is not looking to showcase and flex his skills. He would rather focus on helping the Pido Jarencio-coached team rediscover the success that they have been missing for the past few years. 

"I just really want to help the team win kasi yun nga, past two seasons medyo pangit yung standings namin. We're just planning to change that talaga," he said. 

"Gusto ko lang pong manalo, wala po akong goal na mag Mythical Five. Bonus na lang po kung dumating man po, pero gusto ko lang pong manalo."

-- Facing a familiar foe --

Up next in UST's list of assignments are the Blue Eagles whom they will be facing on Wednesday, September 11, 6:30 p.m. at the same venue.

This would be the first time that he is to face his former school, as Forthsky was previously also a part of the proud institution's high school program.

But despite going up against Ateneo, Padrigao — much like how he dealt with the ghost of his past that will forever haunt him — would instead focus on basketball and not the outside noise that may come with playing versus his former team. 

"Kung paano kami nag-prepare kanina, that's how we're gonna prepare sa mga next games namin no matter kung sino kalaban namin," he said. 

"Wala namang [gigil or added motivation]. I just want to win and just help the team," he stressed. 

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