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    What made Padrigao, Lazaro stay in Ateneo amid rival schools' offers

    Sought after by rival schools, Padrigao, Lazaro eager to keep Blue Eaglets winning tradition in seniors team
    Sep 23, 2020
    PHOTO: UAAP

    FROM the days of Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal to the era of Thirdy Ravena and brothers Matt and Mike Nieto, Ateneo has taken great pride in having players from its high school program ascend to its college team.

    Those success stories are poised to continue in the future after Blue Eaglets standouts Forthsky Padrigao and Josh Lazaro made their commitments to the Blue Eagles program.

    "It's always a pleasure for our program to bring players from the high school ranks to the university 'cause we see that as a big advantage for us whenever that happens," admitted coach Tab Baldwin.

    Team manager Epok Quimpo agreed.

    "It's a welcoming news for the college program," he said. "We've always wanted our high school players to make it to college. We give value to the things that they've learned, not just the mantra but most especially the spirit that goes behind being an Atenean. Yan ang di namin matuturo agad agad."

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      Apart from the winning culture already built in Katipunan, what spurred the two to stay put is the quality education that the school offers, that as much as they were sought after by rival schools, nothing compared to the ease they feel in Ateneo.

      And thus, their choice to remain in blue-and-white.

      "Yung parents ko, ini-stress nila yung importance ng education," said Lazaro. "Given na yung program ni coach Tab, one of a kind talaga and isa sa pinakamagandang program sa college basketball."

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      Padrigao added: "Quality education and good basketball program, parehas yun may Ateneo. Di ko na kailangan pang lumayo."

      But they know that climbing the ladder from the juniors to the seniors team also gives them a cross to bear as they try to achieve the same level of success their predecessors had once they play for the Blue Eagles.

      Yet count on Padrigao and Lazaro to take that challenge head on as they try to prove that Baldwin made the right decision in recruiting them once they move up to the seniors team come UAAP Season 84.

      "We take pride in it kasi yung mga kuya namin, product sila ng Ateneo High School, and then maganda ang pinakita nila sa college. So dapat kami, it's either mahigitan namin o tapatan namin yung nagawa nila for the college division," said Padrigao.

      "It serves as motivation sa amin na sundan yung yapak nila kuya Thirdy, sila kuya Mike, and iba pa lalo na at mag-PBA na sila," added Lazaro. "Gusto namin maging ganoon din kami at makapagdala din kami ng championship sa Ateneo same as them."

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        PHOTO: UAAP
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