Fate rarely announces itself in the UAAP.
More often than not, it arrives quietly — masked as a paperwork mishap, a canceled season due to the pandemic, or a tryout never meant to be taken seriously.
For the University of Santo Tomas, however, fate and destiny were best reflected in the unwavering legacy and commitment of Eka Soriano and Kent Pastrana, whose impact on the Growling Tigresses cannot be overstated.
In just three seasons, UST proved it was not only a contender in a highly competitive eight-team field but also capable of championship glory. This was capped by a historic Season 86 title run and a reclamation of the crown in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Basketball Tournament against modern-day rival National University.
At the heart of this success were two ‘heaven-sent’ players, whose collegiate journeys might never have included the Black and Gold, but who ended up among the finest to ever wear the Growling Tigresses uniform.
“Si Kent naman, I was recruiting her noong nasa Silay pa siya and talagang dream school niya yung La Salle. But come pandemic, merong nangyaring problema sa La Salle and tumawag siya sa akin na lilipat daw siya ng UST,” Ong said after UST’s Game 3 conquest of NU in front of a raucous crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, December 14.
“Kay Eka, ganoon din naman. I think heaven-sent nga ‘eh — ‘yan yung palagi kong sinasabi sa interviews ko.
“Sabi ko nga, I think lahat ng recruit ko sa UST ay all heaven-sent. Syempre may mga players na umaalis din sa program, but again, yung mga nagse-stay sa amin sa UST, they are all heaven-sent dahil alam nila yung programa ng UST,” she added.
Fresh Starts
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Fresh out of Perpetual High School, Soriano’s path to Espana was never guaranteed.
Initially set for the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, paperwork issues derailed her commitment. She ultimately found a home with the Growling Tigresses after merely accompanying a friend to a tryout — where Ong saw not a spectator, but a cornerstone.
“Hindi ako nagkamali. Hindi naman ako ganon ka-showy kay coach, pero nagpapasalamat ako kay coach Haydee sa lahat. Hindi lang sa loob ng court, outside rin syempre, marami siyang binigay,” the Season 85 MVP shared.
“Lagi naman niya sinasabi sa akin na tulungan niyo lang ako iangat yung team at makuha yung championship — wala na akong hihilingin sa inyo ni Kent. And ito na ‘yon.”
If Soriano arrived by accident, Pastrana came by way of redemption.
Once the pride of the Lady Archers, the Silay City native made an immediate mark in the UAAP. She earned Rookie of the Year and Mythical 5 honors in Season 82, solidifying herself as the next big thing for the Cholo Villanueva-mentored squad.
But the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted more than tournaments. It also created openings within the program, giving Pastrana the chance — and the need — to start anew.
That new beginning came at UST, which offered more than a jersey or a return to the country’s premier collegiate league.
It offered belief.
Under Ong’s guidance, Pastrana finally found a system and a home where her poise, leadership, and shot-making could flourish, forming the perfect tandem with Soriano’s do-it-all mentality and leadership.
“Dahil sa gabay ng coaches at mga teammates ko, hindi nila pinaramdam sa akin na malayo ako sa family ko. Pinaramdam nila sa akin na part ako ng family sa UST. Sobrang mami-miss ko yung UST kasi iba talaga yung program ng UST. Iba kami magmahalan, hindi lang teammates kung hindi bilang magkakapatid at magkakapamilya. Outside the court, nandoon kami, buo kami,” Pastrana shared.
“Thankful lang din ako sa UST talaga dahil tinanggap nila ako ng buo kahit galing pa ako ng ibang school. Thankful ako kay coach Haydee dahil matagal na ako matigas ulo, pero tinanggap pa rin niya ako ng buo bilang hindi ibang tao na hindi taga-ibang team lang galing.”
Through circumstances aligning perfectly, the Growling Tigresses did not merely find two players to bolster their championship hopes — they found a backbone.
Mission Accomplished
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Soriano and Pastrana’s careers will go down as two of the most decorated in their generation of UST women’s basketball.
A dreamer from Tondo, Soriano guided the Growling Tigresses to a runner-up finish in Season 82, earned bronze and MVP honors in Season 85, claimed the historic Season 86 title, settled for runner-up in Season 87, and ended her UST career with a Season 88 championship.
She also shone in 3×3 play, securing a runner-up finish in Season 84, an inaugural title in Season 85, and bronze in Season 87.
Yet among all these accolades, one achievement stands above all: leaving the Growling Tigresses as queens of UAAP women’s basketball.
“Happy ako na nag-end yung career namin sa UAAP ni Kent ng champion, maayos, and walang injuries… Super happy ako kasi may happy memories ako na babalikan,” Soriano shared.
“Kumbaga, yung second game, medyo panget yung linalaro namin ni Kent. Kumbaga, hindi kami nakakatulong sa offense, pero bumabawi naman kami sa defense. Yung mga teammates namin, nag-step up. Super happy ako kasi lahat talaga kami nagtrabaho para dito. Hindi lang yung mga teammates ko, pero pati yung mga coaches na nag-guide sa amin.”
Pastrana’s resume is equally impressive.
In all four UAAP seasons, the 25-year-old forward made the Mythical 5 — now called the Elite Team — each time: once with La Salle in Season 82 and three times with UST from Seasons 86 to 88.
She played a pivotal role in UST’s Season 86 championship run, settled for silver in Season 87, and concluded her UST journey with a Season 88 title, dropping only one game across the season.
Saving her best for last, Pastrana earned Finals MVP honors in Season 88, averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.8 steals in the three-game title series.
“Sobrang nao-overwhelm ako kasi wala naman sa goal ko na makuha yung Finals MVP. Ang goal ko lang naman is makuha yung championship — and ito na ‘yon. Thankful ako na binigyan ako ng another blessing ni God at thankful ako sa mga teammates ko. Mami-miss ko sila at mami-miss ko yung mga kalaban dito sa UAAP kasi last game na namin ito ni Eka,” an emotional Pastrana shared.
In a league where dynasties are often built through pipelines and long-term projections, UST’s rise was powered by faith, timing, and two players who found exactly where they were meant to be.
