As the Most Valuable Player and a member of the Mythical Five of the UAAP Women’s Basketball Tournament, Eka Soriano has had an impressive season for University of Santo Tomas.
The Perpetual Help alumna amassed a whopping 92.286 statistical points to clinch the MVP gong thanks to her averages of 14.36 points, 7.14 assists, 6.29 rebounds, and 3.71 steals in the elimination round.
“Sobrang di ko siya in-expect na makukuha ko siya pero nakaka-proud po kasi ganito pala yung feeling. Nakakatuwa. Nakaka-proud kasi lahat ng tinrabaho ko, ng teammates ko para tulungan ako ng coaches – ito na po yun,” said Soriano.
“Kumbaga bonus po ito eh. Hindi kami dito naka-focus, nasa championship.”
The Manila-resident winning the MVP gong this season made it the third straight year that the award was given to a UST player. Beforehand, foreign student-athlete Grace Irebu received the honor back in Seasons 81 and 82.
For her, it is a testament to the Growling Tigresses’ program that an athlete from the school won it for another campaign running.
“Dun pa lang po nakakatuwa kasi iisa lang ang coach na pinanggalingan ng tatlong sunod-sunod po. Dun pa lang po makikita na iba yung sistema (at) yung galing ng coaches na meron kami,” said the sophomore athlete.
“Sobrang proud (ng coaches) para sa akin. Yung tiwala na binigay nila sa akin, ang laki po. Kaya ko din siguro nakuha to.”
Truth be told, things could have panned out so differently for Soriano. During the condensed Season 84, she was initially inserted as a reserve for UST during the 3×3 tournament.
However, her teammate, Tacky Tacitac, got injured before the start of the game. This gave her a chance to demonstrate what she can do for the Growling Tigresses.
“Yung chance na binigay sa akin, sabi nga po ng coaches para sayo talaga yun, kaya mas nagtrabaho ako nang nagtrabaho hanggang sa season na ito, yun nga lang hindi kami pinalad pumasok sa Finals pero thankful ako kasi nakakuha ako ng bonus,” she said.
Just like any other player, though, Soriano prioritizes team glory over individual wins. She has three more playing years for the growling Tigresses.
Aside from her studies, she is focusing on helping UST reclaim the crown it last won last Season 69. Not even a potential national team call-up can take her gaze away from her main goals.
“Actually wala talaga siya sa focus ko pero di ko alam at di ko masasabi kasi naka-focus talaga ako sa UST and sa acads. Kung pagbibigay ng opportunity, why not pero wala talaga siya sa focus ko,” she said.
As the Season 85 MVP, Soriano hopes that more and more people will pay attention to women’s basketball in the Philippines. A lot of other female cagers like her have done their part in raising the level of the game in the country.
She hopes that the efforts of herself and her peers will elevate the country’s standing internationally to the point that it can export more talent abroad like UAAP legend Jack Animam.
“Mas bigyan pa po nila ng exposure ang women’s basketball kasi talagang maraming magagaling na babaeng manlalaro dito sa Pilipinas. Hindi lang po talaga silang babae lang,” she said.
“May makikita ka dun mga players na lalaki na maglaro kaya mas bigyan nila ng pansin kasi iba talaga pag galing dito rin sa atin and mapapadala din sa iba. Magiging import din sila,” she continued.
“Kung mabibigyan (ako) ng pagkakataon, why not po? Pero marami po siguro talagang tatrabahuin eh. Lalo na ang liit ko para dun. Talagang trabaho, trabaho.”
