University of Santo Tomas co-captain Forthsky Padrigao bore the brunt of responsibility after the Growling Tigers’ heart-wrenching collapse against Matt Erolon and the Adamson University Soaring Falcons in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
UST was just 32.2 seconds away from snapping a two-game skid. They held an eight-point, 88-80 lead after Gelo Crisostomo sank a dagger triple — a cushion that Matty Montebon later admitted felt “out of reach.”
But the Growling Tigers’ late-game woes quickly unraveled. Padrigao and Nic Cabanero combined to miss five of six crucial free throws, giving Adamson an opening.
On the other side, Ray Allen Torres sank two free throws, and Montebon nailed two three-pointers to force overtime.
Then, in the extra period, Erolon hit the game-winning triple, completing the Soaring Falcons’ improbable comeback and sending UST to its third straight loss after starting the season 5-1.
“Well, I think that’s on us [sa] players especially kasi nakasulat sa board namin na play until the end and for 40 minutes.
“But again, personally that’s me too, missing free throws, then si Nic [Cabanero], nagdagdag din ng missed niya na free throws. So that’s on us din,” Padrigao told Tiebreaker Times in an exclusive interview.
“We just need to stick together. We have five more games, we have to learn about the things that we need to learn about, and move on na,” the 6-foot graduating floor general added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UST’s free throw struggles were glaring, finishing 17-of-27 from the stripe compared to Adamson’s efficient 12-of-16. Yet Padrigao acknowledged that the bigger issue was the team’s urgency and drive.
He emphasized the need to “give more than-100 percent” if the Growling Tigers are to salvage the remainder of their season.
“Like you have mentioned, yung eagerness namin, we have to give more than 100-percent every game. It’s about us, watching film, taking into account what are our mistakes kasi doon kami matututo,” the former Ateneo Blue Eagle said.
As UST faces its final five elimination round games, Padrigao stressed the importance of staying united and maintaining morale despite the four-game skid. The Growling Tigers have dropped from a top-two finish at the end of the first round to fifth place with a 5-4 record.
“It’s more of keeping our morale up kasi frustrating yung talo, especially today. We can’t stay too low you know? We have to stay grounded para makapag-move on kami and think about the next games na meron,” Padrigao shared.
“I think wala ka naman kailangan baguhin. More on we have to stay together lalo na sa mga ganitong adversities. Kailangan namin mahanap and dig deep kung ano ba talaga yung character namin and identity namin as a team. But then, hopefully, dumating siya sa next few games namin.”
#WATCH: Forthsky Padrigao rallies UST to stick together amid a troubling four-game losing streak 🐯🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/aJIIg8NQSZ
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— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) October 29, 2025
