BY MILES ARCENAL
FOR the first time since leaving Ateneo three years ago, Forthsky Padrigao is set to step foot again at the newly-renovated Blue Eagle Gym, but this time wearing gold-and
-black.
However, for the University of Santo Tomas co-captain, the upcoming game isn’t about nostalgia or personal storylines.
It’s about keeping focus and continuing the momentum the Growling Tigers built in their bounce-back win over UE.
READ: Tab sees trivial advantage in UAAP return to Blue Eagle Gym
“Nothing personal, it’s UST vs Ateneo, it’s not Forthsky vs Ateneo or whatsoever,” said Pagridgao.
“So, yun lang we’ll stick to our preparations but for now we’re focus on the recovery kasi we had 3 games this week, hopefully makapag-recover kami nang maayos so maging ready kami for Ateneo game.”
It might be an emotional return to his former home court, but the 6-foot guard admitted that the feeling hasn’t quite hit him yet.
“Honestly right now, wala pa akong maramdaman masyado and hindi ko pa siya nilo-look forward kasi I’m looking forward on resting kasi nga naka-tatlong games kami, wala pa ako dyan sa feeling na ‘yan,” he said.
Padrigao is coming off his best performance of the season, erupting for 22 points on a 5-of-9 shooting clip from beyond the arc, on top of three rebounds, six assists, and six steal.
“Well happy na we won as per my performance naman, I just continue to work on everyday naman eh yung reps ko it doesn’t stop naman eh and I’m just happy na to see myself progress as well but I’m more than happy na nanalo yung team rather than my individual performance,” Padrigao said.
More than the scoring burst, it was his leadership that anchored the Tigers.
“Well it’s been my responsibility, it’s my job na talagang i-lead yung teammates ko and there’s nothing new about my responsibility sa team na to. I just wanna do my job well and be good at it,” he shared.
As the season progresses, consistency remains his biggest focus especially now going up against the league-leading team Ateneo.
“Like what I have said earlier, just continue my reps and working on, lahat naman kami sa team na nag-iindividual skills kami with true focus. We just continue doing that and hopefully maging consistent kami,” he said.
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