Kent Pastrana and Eka Soriano are leaving no stone unturned as the UST duo play their final season for the Growling Tigresses in UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball.
For UST veterans Eka Soriano and Kent Pastrana, every game this season carries extra weight.
With their UAAP careers nearing the finish line, the two Tigresses know there’s no holding back if they want to walk away with something that will last.
“Palagi naming sinasabi na huwag na tayo mag-tira sa sarili natin, kasi next year wala na talaga and hindi na kami makakabalik sa UAAP… every game pumapasok kami kung saan kami kailangan, especially na last year na namin,” Pastrana said after UST’s 76-62 statement win over the defending champion NU Bulldogs in a rematch of the last two Finals series.
[ALSO READ: UST dominates NU in rematch of last two UAAP women's basketball Finals]
UST turned what was expected to be a tight game into a one-sided affair, notching back-to-back wins and tying unbeaten Ateneo Blue Eagles and UP Fighting Maroons for the top spot at 2-0.
Pastrana tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Soriano—the UAAP Season 85 MVP—added 11 points and four rebounds.
Kent Pastrana celebrates with her teammates following the UST's commanding win against defending champion NU. | Photo: The UAAP
“Pinaghuhugutan ko lang is last year ko na ngayon, kaya lagi kong iniisip kapag pinasok ako [ni coach] is to give all,” Soriano reflected.
“Wala na kong babalikan next year, so kailangan pigain ko lahat and makinig lang sa coaches at magtiwala sa sistema,” she added.
Controlling rebounds
UST didn’t just beat NU — they outworked them. Nigerian center Oma Onianwa anchored the paint with 18 points and 15 rebounds, while CJ Maglupay and Coi Danganan chipped in 11 boards each.
The Growling Tigresses finished with a 23-8 advantage in second-chance points and attempted a staggering 98 shots, nearly double NU’s 58.
“Everybody crashed the boards because NU is known for their second chance points. Kaya I put emphasis sa training namin and gameplan tonight na as much as possible, no shot or just one shot for NU. And we did it tonight,” UST head coach Haydee Ong said.
Long time coming
It also marked UST’s first win in the elimination round for NU after the Espana-based squad went 0-14 to their rivals since Season 79.
UST head coach Haydee Ong helps the Growling Tigresses earn their elimination round breakthrough against NU | Photo: The UAAP
“This is a big boost for us, especially maaga kami nagkita ng NU. I hope the girls are motivated with this game and keep on working hard,” Ong said.
Despite NU’s strong start in Season 88, Ong noted that UST still has plenty of room to grow in its quest for a second title in the last three seasons.
“There’s so much more to improve sa team and day-by-day naman cinocorrect namin ‘yung mga mali namin and mga things na we need to improve,” she added.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.