Forthsky Padrigao had a chance to redeem himself after falling into academic probation at Ateneo de Manila University for this school year.
However, the 21-year-old native of Zamboanga City knew that it would be an uphill climb. Moreover, facing the mountain of his past demons would be too difficult to conquer if he had stayed.
A month after Ateneo announced that he would not be able to participate in any extracurricular activities for his junior year, Padrigao decided to leave the school altogether.
For Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin, the battle was already over after the UAAP Season 85 tournament had ended.
“From Forthsky’s perspective, it wasn’t winnable. He won his (academic) appeal, and he was allowed to continue as a student, but the off-court incidents when he was in high school were the death knell for Forthsky,” shared Baldwin on Radyo5’s Power and Play on Saturday.
“The environment around him at the university was toxic, and he had had enough.”
During the season, Padrigao was haunted by allegations that occurred during his time at Ateneo High School.
However, it was only in his farewell message to the school that he admitted to his faults.
After the basketball season had ended, Padrigao struggled to even attend school, eventually flunking his subjects.
“I think that’s incredibly sad, and the people responsible for that – past, present, and future – really need to do some soul-searching. We are a Catholic university, and this kid was begging for a second chance after he admitted his mistakes,” Baldwin continued. “He had done a lot in the ensuing years to make amends for those.
“Forthsky isn’t just a basketball player. He is a good kid who made a big mistake. He just couldn’t overcome the toxic environment that surrounded him.”
Now, Padrigao, a member of the UAAP Season 85 Mythical Team, is looking for a fresh start.
According to sources from Tiebreaker Times, two universities – one from the UAAP and another from the NCAA, both Catholic schools – are hoping that Padrigao will choose them.
Wherever he lands, Baldwin promised the embattled prospect that he is just one call away.
“I have all the sympathy in the world for him, and I’ve told him that he has my undying support moving forward. Whatever I can do to help him in life and in basketball, he will have that from me, his ex-teammates, and his coaches.”
