Romwel Anzures

UST’s Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao. Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757516829990IMG_0718-min.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. <em>Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero are set to enter their last playing year in UAAP men’s basketball.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/8/27/what-to-expect-in-the-uaap-season-88-opening-ceremony-1618"><strong>READ: What to expect in the UAAP Season 88 opening ceremony</strong></a></div><p>Two of the league’s top guards from University of Santo Tomas will have one final run in the collegiate ranks in Season 88, and both of them have done all they could to prepare themselves and the Growling Tigers for their upcoming campaign.</p><p>“Our preseason went well, we had quality practices, we went out of town, and I think it is beneficial and it went well for us because our bond has been stronger than ever,” Padrigao told ABS-CBN News.</p><div>Pido Jarencio’s squad is coming off a Final 4 appearance in Season 87, and they only fell short against the higher-seeded and eventual champions University of the Philippines.<br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757516934369IMG_0698-min.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="UST’s Forthsky Padrigao. Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">UST’s Forthsky Padrigao.<em> Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern.</em></span></span></span>And while that struck a nerve for UST, Padrigao and the rest of the Tigers used it as fuel in their preseason festivities which included a trip to Bayugan as well as a camp in Korea.</div><p>“Doon na-build yung samahan namin. We’ve been close ever since those trips,” said Padrigao, who even went up against teams from the Korean Basketball League.</p><p>In addition to their trips, Padrigao also did his part in setting an example for his teammates.</p><p>“Yung skills training namin, sabay sabay kami eh,” he shared. “Hindi naman sa ako yung nag guide sa kanila, pero I introduced them sa skills coach ko. Gusto namin na talagang matulungan sila to improve, hindi lang sa standards ng UAAP, pero also on the international stage.”</p><p>On the other hand, Cabañero juggled his responsibilities as a student-athlete during the offseason en route to earning his Business Administration - Major in Marketing Management degree.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLFHh4pB8Ad/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A30170602.19999993%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>“Nag focus ako sa academics kasi graduating ako nung off-season,” shared Cabañero. “Meron din akong OJT, so I was balancing our practices and those responsibilities.”</p><p>“Pero nakapag prepare naman ako and kami ng maayos. Super challenging yun, sobrang stress and nakakapagod physically and mentally. Kaya grateful ako sa mga professors and sa classmates ko na tinulungan ako, and yung team tinulungan ako, kaya nakapag focus ako,” he added.</p><p>But while Forth, Nic, and the rest of the Tigers had various ways in which they spent their build-up for Season 88, they are united by one goal: winning the UAAP championship.</p><p>“Ang bilis ng panahon, last season ko na,” reflected Cabañero. “Pero, for my final year, gusto ko talagang mag participate sa championship. That is our goal.”</p><p>“I know, all other teams’ goals are the Final 4 and the championship, but I can feel na kayang kaya namin talaga. Alam ko, mahirap yung tatahakin namin talaga, pero yung chemistry namin is very good,” he added.</p><p>Aside from the duo, standouts like incoming sophomore Amiel Acido and rookies Collins Akowe and Koji Buenaflor have all played their part as UST gears up for its UAAP title chase.</p><p>“I found it easy because I’ve been with good teammates, so it’s a good one,” said Akowe of his transition to UST, crediting Padrigao, Cabañero, Leland Estacio, and Kyle Paranada. “Everyone has been helping me. They have been supporting me, they have been helpful, and they are always pushing me.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/4/uaap-collins-akowe-holds-self-to-high-standards-as-he-mans-the-paint-for-ust-0830"><strong>READ: Collins Akowe holds self to high standards as he mans the paint for UST</strong></a></div><p>“Sobrang laking tulong nila,” said Acido, for his part. “Sila yung nag mulat sakin sa kung ano pa yung kaya kong gawin, para makapag step-up pa sa next level at mas makapag sabayan pa sa iba, sa mga mas magagaling kasi gusto ko talagang mas maging competitive.”<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/2/uaap-amiel-acido-ready-to-make-huge-leap-in-upcoming-sophomore-year-for-ust-2024"><strong></strong></a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/2/uaap-amiel-acido-ready-to-make-huge-leap-in-upcoming-sophomore-year-for-ust-2024"></a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/2/uaap-amiel-acido-ready-to-make-huge-leap-in-upcoming-sophomore-year-for-ust-2024"><strong>READ: Amiel Acido ready to make huge leap in upcoming sophomore year for UST</strong></a></div><p>And for Padrigao, this put the Tigers in a prime spot to fulfill their potential.</p><div>“I’m proud siyempre, pero this is also their responsibility,” he said. “Kailangan namin i-commit yung sarili namin doon. We’re at 70 to 80%. Pero, I can say a lot about our preseason preparations, but when it comes sa UAAP, alam natin na ibang-iba yung level and yung intensity.”<br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757517006432IMG_0687-min.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="UST’s Nic Cabañero. Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">UST’s Nic Cabañero. <em>Photo by Jose Raphael Gonzales, ABS-CBN News Intern.</em></span></span></span>“The chemistry is there, the eagerness is there, tapos yung jelling ng team is sobrang ganda,” Cabañero chipped in. “Yung rookies, sobrang willing mag adjust, and tinutulungan namin sila.”</div><p>However, while their goals are set and their path is paved, Forth and Nic are also taking Season 88 as an opportunity to relish their respective UAAP careers and leave their legacy in UST.</p><p>“Talagang ine-enjoy ko lang itong last season ko. After nito, wala nang college basketball eh,” Padrigao. “So ie-enjoy ko itong coming UAAP season.”</p><p>“He’s a point guard, I’m a scoring guard, pero yung presence namin needs to be felt more. Hindi lang on the court, but also off of it,” added Cabañero.</p><p>The Growling Tigers will open its UAAP Season 88 campaign on their home floor on Sunday, September 21, 4:30 p.m., against defending champs University of the Philippines at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in España, Manila.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgrbi3J-zo5Omf-"></script><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgrb-XIk9U_GJut"></script>

<p>#UAAPSeason88 Preview | Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero are set to enter their last playing year in UAAP men’s basketball. </p>

#UAAPSeason88 Preview | Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero are set to enter their last playing year in UAAP men’s basketball.

UAAP: Final Roar — Padrigao, Cabañero power UST's Season 88 hopes

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UAAP: Final Roar — Padrigao, Cabañero power UST's Season 88 hopes

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 12, 2025 09:00 AM PHT

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