UST point guard Forthsky Padrigao will wear Zamboanga on his chest for the first time in a long time when he plays in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Forthsky Padrigao has bannered numerous names across his chest when he plays on the basketball court, but playing for his hometown is something that hasn’t come up for the UAAP champion in years — until now.
A native of Zamboanga where he played most of his youth, Padrigao now gets to banner his motherland on the big stage, as he plays for the Zamboanga Valientes in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship beginning this weekend.
Presented with the unique opportunity, which also opens doors to develop his skills ahead of UAAP Season 88, Padrigao jumped at the chance to lead the rag-tag team in the anticipated championship.
“Excited lang kasi like I’ve said before, huling na-represent ko 'yung Zamboanga, I was grade six pa and then same head coach, si Coach Bobidick [Delos Santos], siya rin 'yung naging head coach ko sa Ateneo from Grade 2 to Grade 6. So, I’m just really excited na talagang kasama ulit 'yung mga fellow Zamboangeños ko,” said Padrigao.
“Kasi hindi palagi may gantong opportunity na binibigay sa atin. So, I’ll just cherish this one and talagang i-e-enjoy ko lang itong opportunity na 'to,” he added.
Other than Padrigao, homegrown Zamboanga talents in the roster include FEU’s Mike Tolomia, Rudy Lingganay, and Denver Cadiz.
Still, it’s not going to be all about local talent as the team also signed on a number of prospects from outside of Zamboanga.
Most notably, the team enlisted the services of 7’5” Malta big man Sam Deguara, former NBA player Adonis Thomas, ex-pros Prince Caperal, Rashawn McCarthy, and Kyt Jimenez, Former UAAP MVP Malick Diouf, and UST star Nic Cabañero.
[RELATED: Kyt Jimenez takes leap with Zamboanga Valientes after stagnant PBA career — ‘Lumilipas yung sikat natin’]
With no shortage of talent, it will be up to Padrigao to make sense of their offense — which will be especially challenging due to their short preparation time.
But for the point guard, who was pivotal in UST’s run to the Final Four in UAAP Season 87, his older teammates have made it easier for him to man the offense, especially since they’ve been specific with what they need from Padrigao.
“Siguro, sinimulan naman namin sa ensayo namin, du'n talaga namin makukuha 'yung pag-gel namin and for me kasi, mas pinadali ng mga veterans ng team kung paano ko makakatulong sa team kasi sinasabi nila sakin kung saan sila, ano 'yung spots nila, 'yung strengths nila,” he said.
“So as a point guard, it’s gonna be easier for me dahil alam ko na kung ano 'yung strengths ng bawat isa. But then, iba pa rin naman 'yung pag game na mismo so, I think masusubukan parin kami du'n sa first two games namin talaga so ayun, hopefully, mas maging maganda lang ngayon 'yung resulta ngayon,” he continued.
Padrigao and the rest of Zamboanga Valientes will be first tested when they face the Sharjah SC on Saturday, January 25.
The other Filipino team, Strong Group Athletics, opens their campaign first on Friday, January 24, against the UAE National Team.