After just two years at Ateneo de Manila University, Forthsky Padrigao has decided to move on.
The 21-year-old guard bid farewell to the university in a simple Instagram post on Monday evening.
Padrigao was put under “academic probation” by Ateneo for his junior year after his QPI was not able to make the quota for sophomores.
Ateneans under probation are not allowed to join extracurricular activities in order for them to focus on their academics.
“As I sit down to write this letter, I find myself with conflicting emotions. My schedule for enrollment in Ateneo is coming up, but for the first time after six years of considering this school my home, I am struggling very hard to do it. After everything that has happened, I feel that I can’t go back anymore, and I have to say farewell.
“Over the course of my stay in Ateneo, I made both right and wrong decisions. The past several months have been very difficult, and I fully acknowledge that this is because of mistakes that I made before when I was still in high school, which haunt me to the day. I want to express my deepest apologies because, even if I never intended to and I never physically hurt anyone, I have come to realize the gravity of my irresponsible words and actions and the pain they caused others,” his statement read.
Still, it was a glorious two years for Padrigao on the basketball court.
Padrigao played a total of 36 games for the Blue Eagles.
He blossomed into one of the UAAP’s finest guards during his second year, averaging 11.61 points, 4.93 assists, 4.22 rebounds, and 2.22 steals per game.
Padrigao was a member of the Mythical Team in UAAP Season 85.
However, his success on the court did not translate outside of it.
Also during his sophomore year, allegations of sexual abuse were raised against Padrigao.
Though no cases were filed, comments on both social media and on the court were heard by the native of Zamboanga.
“In the past months, many conclusions were drawn about me, and I don’t take that against people, but I know in my heart I am not who they think I am. I want to take what I can from this experience and work to improve myself going forward,” he said.
“However, the past months have made this extremely difficult. I’ve kept my silence because my team needed to focus on the games, but I can’t understand how malicious the stories have become since we won, and now I have to answer even for errors I didn’t commit. That’s why attending classes has been getting harder and harder for me, and now even if I want to represent my university as an athlete, I can’t anymore. My mother, who has always been by my side, had to return to Zamboanga because of the pressure. She doesn’t deserve to suffer like this. My lapses don’t reflect the values that my parents taught me.”
According to sources, Padrigao will either move to another UAAP school or sign a contract with either a B.League or KBL club.
Wherever this journey will lead him, Padrigao will be forever grateful to Ateneo.
“As I leave Ateneo, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the University for giving me a chance to study in my dream school. I want to thank the community, the alumni, my coaches, the management team, my current and former teammates, my former classmates and teachers for building me up, expanding my game, and showing me what Ateneo education is about. I had the greatest chance to be a basketball champion here; I am learning now it takes much more to win at living,” he expressed.
“I have nothing but gratitude for everyone who made my stay in Ateneo worthwhile. I don’t know where I will go or what options may still be in store for me. I am making this decision because I want to take responsibility for my past and for my future-there is a lot I have to learn to redeem myself,” he continued.
“I hope those I’ve hurt will heal. I hope somehow in this journey I’ll make my parents proud again. If I were given the ultimate kindness of a second chance, I know I will have to work harder than any basketball training I’ve undergone before. But I will be better. Let me be better.”
