For the past two seasons, Forthsky Padrigao has been a proven scorer for Ateneo High School.
Just in UAAP Season 82, the 6-foot guard averaged a team-high 17.2 points to go along with 4.13 rebounds, 4.13 assists, and 3.67 steals per contest.
But according to Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin, one facet overshadowed by Padrigao’s shooting ability is the way he dishes out dimes. And that there will separate him from his predecessors Matt Nieto and SJ Belangel.
“One thing that separates Forthsky potentially from all of them — and also presents the possibility of him being better than any of them — is he has better court vision than all of his predecessors,” opined Baldwin about his latest recruit.
“He’s a tremendous passer of the ball, and he’s gonna get a lot stronger, which is going to make his passing even better.”
Padrigao has also already been tested in international competitions. He was part of the Gilas Youth team that competed in three FIBA youth events, averaging 7.1 points per game.
During that competition, he showed no fear, even against bigger and stiffer competition.
“When you combine that with the fact that he is a good long-range shooter, you got a kid that can be a great floor general, a player that plays very well with superior talent. And you got a guy that can be a force on the offensive end,” continued the well-traveled tactician.
“We just have to turn him to a player who loves and wants to play defense, and a player that has the strength and ability to be a rim attacker as well, and what you got is a very complete point guard,” opined Baldwin.
“But if there’s a uniqueness about him, his court vision is tremendous, especially for such a young player.”
Still, the 18-year-old downplayed the expectations surrounding him, especially having committed this early to the Blue Eagles.
For him, he still has plenty to improve before he can be mentioned with the likes of Nieto and Belangel.
“I haven’t played a single game in college, either summer leagues or UAAP. For me, I’m not yet next in line. Wala pa ako doon. Malayong malayo pa ako.”
And it’s this humbleness from the young buck that made Baldwin nod his head.
“I certainly think that, when you listen to his answer, he passes one grade by deferring to his predecessors — the players who have already been there and done it, the current point guards that are at the school. He already shows that maturity and humility. If it’s real or not, it doesn’t matter because that’s what he needs to show.”
