Kent Pastrana was one of the heroes in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the UAAP Season 86 Collegiate Women’s Basketball Finals, a match that ended University of Santo Tomas’ 17-year title drought and brought an end to National University’s seven-year reign.
Her contributions were critical in UST’s 71-69 come-from-behind win over the Lady Bulldogs, where she drained the game-tying jumper before Nikki Villasin’s go-ahead layup.
With UST sitting atop the UAAP women’s basketball scene, Pastrana has quickly become the focal point of every opponent’s defensive game plan.
This was evident in their first encounter with NU since the Season 86 Finals, where the Lady Bulldogs’ defense held Pastrana to just seven points on 3-of-13 shooting, though she still managed to grab 10 rebounds, dish out two assists, collect two steals, and block a shot.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko ngayon, so bumawi na lang ako kung saan ako pwede mag-contribute kasi bantay sarado ako ngayon,” Pastrana told Tiebreaker Times.
“Kailangan ko i-work on kung ano yung gagawin ko para makacontribute rin ako sa mga kasama ko.”
Not only did NU successfully check the UAAP Season 86 Athletie of the Year, but their defensive schemes also disrupted UST’s perimeter plays and fast-paced offense, both of which are key to the Growling Tigresses’ game.
As a result, UST struggled offensively, shooting only 26-of-72 from the field and 8-of-30 from beyond the arc, while managing just six fastbreak points.
“Nawala yung strengths namin—yung atake namin sa transition. Yung first to third kasi parang hindi kami tumakbo kahit alam namin na ‘yun yung strength namin, siguro doon kami nawalan ng kumpiyansa sa isa’t isa,” said Pastrana.
Despite the loss, Pastrana remains determined to bring the Growling Tigresses back to their winning ways, especially with a hungry La Salle squad up next on the schedule.
“Gagawin pa rin namin kung ano yung game plan and siguro mag-prepare kami ulit kasi hindi naman imposible lahat. Kailangan namin mag-prepare pa rin kahit ganyan mga kalaban namin kasi lahat naman nagpe-prepare and lahat marunong maglaro,” she said.
“Yung next namin na iaadjust ay kung ano yung laro namin nung fourth quarter talaga, kasi yun talaga ang UST women’s basketball.”
