Black-eyed and all, Forthsky Padrigao delivered a sensational performance to towing Ateneo de Manila University back to the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball winning column.
Playing with a marked right eye, the second-year guard still tallied a complete statline of 20 points, eight assists, five steals, and three rebounds.
More importantly, the Blue Eagles avenged their loss to De La Salle University with a 79-52 win over University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday.
“Not really naman,” answered Padrigao if the black eye affected his play.
Padrigao also did not make a big deal on his statline despite topping three categories for Ateneo. Instead, he emphasized that they just wanted to bounce back.
He also pointed out how the Blue Eagles just wanted to make up for a horrendous performance against the Green Archers that saw Tab Baldwin issuing a challenge to his wards to be better.
“We just want to be a better team than we were last game,” said the 5-foot-11 streaky shooter.
“Yung credit dapat sa buong team eh, hindi lang sa akin.”
Dave Ildefonso and Kai Ballungay chipped in 10 points apiece with the former adding nine rebounds and six assists, while Geo Chiu received praise from their head coach for his five points and nine rebounds.
More than the numbers on the stat sheet though, Baldwin was more impressed with how Padrigao and Ildefonso took the leadership role in the second half where Ateneo outscored UST by 26.
“In the second half, these two guys sitting beside me they stepped up in the leadership role,” said Baldwin.
“All of a sudden, we started to play better and then the score kinda blew up a little bit and it was a good win for us in the end. It’s a team that really has its fighting spirit today.”
