Heading into her final year in UAAP Season 88, two-time Mythical Five member Kent Pastrana is aiming to be the best version of herself for the UST Growling Tigresses.
Kent Pastrana is in for one final ride with the UST Growling Tigresses in UAAP Season 88.
After leading the España-based cagers to glory with a streak-busting championship win over NU back in 2023, Pastrana hopes to end her UAAP career with a bang and another title — this time with UST serving as season hosts.
Pastrana heads into the new season with a ton of motivation and baggage, especially after just falling short of defending their title last year, losing against the NU Lady Bulldogs in a three-game Finals.
Now with a clean slate and with more than a few additional options on offense, Pastrana is eager to turn things around.
Before they take on UAAP Season 88, Pastrana outlined three lessons that she took from the heartbreak of last year’s Finals.
Composure is key
Pastrana first said that it's pivotal for the team to have unwavering trust in themselves.
Against a field of competitors that have slowly but surely become better, Pastrana and the rest of the Tigresses need to match their ferocity in order to compete.
“Be composed and kailangan yung tiwala mo sa sarili mo, 100 percent,” she said.
“Wala kang doubt [dapat] sa sarili mo para alam mo yung ibigay mo yung lahat ng effort mo, wala kang matitira.”
Already in her last playing year with UST, Pastrana is leaving no stone unturned in hopes of winning another title.
Kent Pastrana (left) will look to leave UST as two-time UAAP champion. Photo: RM Chua
Seeking consistency
It’s not going to be a good game each time, but Pastrana is adamant that she and the rest of her teammates will need to continue pushing.
Despite ups and downs that the UAAP season will surely present, consistency will always be key according to Pastrana.
“Yung natutunan ko pa isa, is kailangan mo maging consistent sa loob ng court, hindi man sa offense, hindi man sa defense, kailangan mag-contribute ka sa loob ng court,” she said.
This will be a lesson that Pastrana needs to take to heart, especially as she will have to share the rock with her other teammates — including foreign student-athlete Oma Onianwa.
[READ: UST Growling Tigresses eye UAAP Season 88 redemption, tap Oma Onianwa for dominance in post]
Vocal leadership
Last but not the least, Pastrana is aiming to be a more effective leader.
With herself and former UAAP MVP Eka Soriano already graduating at the end of the year, both players will need to leave their mark on their younger teammates to plant a lasting legacy in España.
[RELATED: Eka Soriano, Kent Pastrana lead by example as UST eyes redemption in UAAP Season 88]
“[Kailangan] maging vocal ako sa loob as a leader. Kasi yun nga, sabi ng mga ibang tao na kailangan na ako maging vocal para mas matulungan ko yung mga teammates ko,” she said.
With those three lessons — and more — in mind, Pastrana and the rest of her teammates are hoping to go all the way. As hosts, nothing will be a more perfect ending for the standout’s collegiate career.