NU Bulldogs’ ahead Kenshin Padrones throughout a sport towards Ateneo within the UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball event.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines—What a distinction a 12 months makes for Nationwide College ahead Kenshin Padrones.
Virtually precisely a 12 months in the past, Padrones was full of uncertainties so far as his younger basketball profession was involved after he took an inadvertent elbow from former UAAP MVP Malick Diouf of College of the Philippines.
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Padrones sustained a fractured orbital bone and was sidelined for almost all of his sophomore season.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
NU coach Jeff Napa and Ken Padrones after ending a four-game skid. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/rVN4h1BYwH
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 5, 2024
“It’s like, we didn’t know what is going to occur subsequent as a result of I obtained hit within the head,” recalled Padrones in Filipino on Saturday evening following NU’s 78-68 win over Ateneo that snapped a four-game shedding skid.
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However that was a 12 months in the past. Quick ahead to now, one factor’s clear: Buoyed by the Bulldogs’ unwavering perception in him, Padrones has been making up for misplaced time.
Again in full power, Padrones performed his greatest sport but with a career-high 18 factors that went with six rebounds to assist NU end the primary spherical on a successful observe.
READ: UAAP: NU stops slide, provides to Ateneo’s woes
“I’m grateful for them (NU) as a result of they didn’t let me go regardless of what occurred,” mentioned Padrones in an interview with Inquirer Sports activities.
“They helped me get again up. It was a giant loss for me as a result of it was my second 12 months, I misplaced plenty of video games however they assured me that they might assist me acquire no matter I had misplaced.”
Padrones, particularly, expressed his gratitude to his head coach Jeff Napa, who was emotional throughout the post-game press convention after steering his squad to only its second win in seven outings.
“I’m grateful for coach Jeff as a result of even when that occurred to me, he nonetheless trusted me. I’m comfortable as a result of coach Jeff gave me such large confidence regardless of what occurred,” Padrones mentioned.
