After seven games with UST in UAAP Season 87, the veteran point guard knows just what the Growling Tigers need from him.
Veteran point guard Forthsky Padrigao isn’t shying away from the responsibility he has with a revamped UST Growling Tigers squad, as they are now halfway through a resurgent campaign in UAAP Season 87.
Helping his team break a two-game slump to end the first round with a victory over FEU on Saturday, Padrigao took it upon himself to lead the team through his example on the court.
Though among those with the brightest star power in the team, Padrigao wasn’t one to keep the ball to himself.
A pass-first point guard with UST, Padrigao said that sharing the rock was ultimately what helped them take the win.
Against FEU, he scored 14 points and 11 assists. Of the 83 points that UST scored, Padrigao either made the shot or made the dime for 39 of them, according to statistician Pong Ducanes.
“I think 'yun 'yung key talaga sa game namin kasi I think the past two games, our assist and turnover rate, masyadong mataas eh. Kumbaga we needed to make some adjustments,” said Padrigao.
“We are at our best 'pag we’re sharing the ball so yun lang ang ginawa rin namin today and thankfully, nagbunga sa panalo.”
But more than his contributions on the stat sheet, Padrigao grew into a role where he manned his teammates through tough times.
As someone with championship experience during his run with the Ateneo Blue Eagles earlier in his career, Padrigao said that he has what it takes to help UST power through.
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Still, Padrigao coughed it up to contributions from the whole team to keep themselves level headed when they need to the most.
“I think that’s what’s expected of me kasi I came here and I had the experience na,” said the point guard.
“But at the end of the day collective effort pa rin ang pagli-lead eh. Apat kami diyan, ako, si Migs [Pangilinan], si Christian [Manaytay] and si Nic [Cabañero]. Tinutulungan din nila ako sa ibang aspects kung saan sila pwedeng makatulong. But then, masaya lang ako na nagagawa ko 'yung role na dapat kong gawin.”
Through seven games, Padrigao has proven himself a key asset for the Growling Tigers, who head into the second half of the season with a winning record of 4-3.
A UAAP champion himself, the Growling Tigers will hope to ride on the playmaker’s experience to mirror his success.
Padrigao and the rest of UST will have a much-needed one week rest before resuming action for Round 2 of UAAP Season 87.