Lady Luck hasn’t smiled all that much on the UP women’s basketball team these past three years.
The winless seasons only stretched on as the Lady Maroons endured defeat after defeat — 38 straight, even.
But when the basketball gods finally gave them a wink, they made sure to make the most of it.
And what a way for UP to break out last Saturday. Pat Pesquera buried the game-winning trey from halfcourt to finally end their struggles with a classic 85-82 victory over UE.
That was not only their first win in the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Basketball Tournament, but also their first victory since 2016.
“I wanted it in my hands. Alam ko na kaya ko naman ibato ‘yun, and I just hoped for the best,” said the graduating winger after her memorable 13-point, 9-rebound, 3-assist performance to lead the girls from Diliman.
And rightfully so, Pesquera has been hailed as the Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Player of the Week.
She not only ended the Lady Maroons’ losing streak, but also overshadowed male peers Ange Kouame of Ateneo, Zach Huang of UST, and fellow State U players Bright Akhuetie and Jun Manzo for the weekly citation determined by print and online media covering the league.
Coincidentally, it was also Pesquera who buried the game-winner the last time UP triumphed before their 38-game losing streak — a 46-44 win over FEU in Season 79.
It may just be one win, but the 23-year-old hopes this would change the tide for the UP women’s basketball program moving forward.
“It’s been so long. Naiintindihan ko naman kung bakit kami natatalo. And ngayon, sa program ni coach Paul (Ramos), we’re trying to start ‘yung winning culture dito sa UP.”
