Two of the UST Growling Tigers’ key cogs, Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero, have one more year of eligibility as the Tigers turn to build on their UAAP Season 87 Final Four berth.
After leading the UST Growling Tigers to their first Final Four appearance in five years, seniors Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero are now at a crossroads on whether or not they will play out their fifth and final year in España.
The pair were among the Tigers’ leaders in a resurgent UAAP Season 87 run. Padrigao, the transferee from Ateneo, used his playmaking smarts to steer the UST offense. The ace guard wrapped up eliminations with a league-high 6.07 assists, accompanied by a modest 8.79 points per contest.
Cabañero, meanwhile, made his first Mythical Five after averaging a team-high 16.29 points, 5.43 rebounds, and nearly a steal (0.93) per contest as he enjoyed an improved supporting cast in his fourth season in España.
But following the Tigers’ 69-78 loss to the finals-bound UP Fighting Maroons, what’s next for two of Black and Gold’s veteran leaders?
Unfinished business
As early as now, Forthsky Padrigao has vowed to run it back with the Tigers next season. After all, he left a lot to be desired in his performance against State U, as he settled for seven points and three assists in 25 minutes and 28 seconds of play.
Padrigao was also ejected from their Final Four game after committing two unsportsmanlike fouls on UP’s one-and-done center Quentin Millora-Brown. His second infraction, an elbow to Millora-Brown’s stomach, proved to be costly as UST lost their chief playmaker with 3:27 left in regulation.
So with a year of eligibility left, Padrigao would rather attempt to finish his UAAP career on a high note in España.
“Babalik ako, babalik ako. After that exit? For sure, babalik ako. I think my teammates and the Thomasian community don’t deserve that performance from me. Kailangan ko bumawi next season,” he told reporters following the loss on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Next year, just be more consistent. Personally kasi throughout this season, up and down [ako], inconsistent. So, I think my team needs me to be consistent,” he reflected.
Despite losing to UP on Saturday, the Tigers still gave them a run for their money thanks to a solid first-half performance. So while it wasn’t the result they wanted, Padrigao knows that UST is on the right track as it attempts to return to title contention.
“I won’t say it was a successful season, but I think it’s more of a step in the right direction. Kasi it showed din naman talaga ngayon kung ano pa ‘yung kailangan namin sa team sa game na ‘yon. And ‘yun, we hope to improve coming next season para mas ready na kami sa mga ganitong challenges,” the Ateneo de Zamboanga product said.
“Yun nga, like what Coach Pido [Jarencio] said kanina, charge into experience na lang daw muna. So I don’t know, let’s see, papanoorin ko rin ‘yung tape personally kasi [para makita] kung paano talaga kami natalo this game.”
Acads first
Nic Cabañero, though, had a noncommital answer when asked about playing his fifth and final year with UST. Despite the Tigers’ renewed potential to compete, the Cebuano guard said that he would focus on his academics first before coming to a decision.
“Actually, to answer that question [playing his final year]…kasi ga-graduate ako this year sa academics ko. If may opportunity [offer to go pro], we’ll never know,” said Cabañero, a fourth-year marketing management student in UST’s College of Commerce.
“But gusto ko pa rin maglaro for UST. Ayun, magfo-focus muna ako sa studies ko kasi mag-internship na rin ako. So mahirap din…since second semester na sa class, dapat mag-focus muna ako sa academics,” he reflected after finishing with 12 points and three rebounds in his Final Four debut.
Like Padrigao, Cabañero believes that Season 87 will be crucial for this core’s growth moving forward. Including Cabañero, just about the whole team were newcomers to the UAAP Final Four atmosphere against the Fighting Maroons.
“Thankful and grateful kami for this season dahil this is my first Final Four and most of my teammates din. Kasi si Forthsky lang ‘yung may experience sa Finals and Final Four,” the Cebuano guard shared. “So malaking boost samin ‘to mentally, na we know how to play the next level. Yon, we’re still aiming for being on top next year.”
Even with Nic Cabañero’s uncertainty, the Tigers will be fielding a relatively intact team for Season 88, with only Christian Manaytay, Chase Lane, and Migs Pangilinan exhausting their playing years.
Alongside Padrigao, younger pieces like Amiel Acido, Gelo Crisostomo, and foreign student athlete Mo Tounkara will enter Season 88 with renewed confidence thanks to this season’s Final Four appearance.
And no matter what happens, Cabañero knows that his squad is committed to breaking the Tigers’ 18 year men’s basketball title drought.
“‘Yun ‘yung goal namin. I think every team naman, ‘yung goal nila is to be on top, to be the champion. So, our team is, what I’m aiming for is, it’s been how many years na? I think 2006 pa lang last championship for UST. So, yun, tuloy pa rin kami,” Cabañero reflected.
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.