With just three weeks left before the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup tips off, Gilas Pilipinas Women are ramping up their preparations for the most important stretch yet in their road to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The journey begins tomorrow, July 2, as the Nationals head to Taiwan for the 44th William Jones Cup — an essential tune-up tournament for the continental battle set for July 13 to 20 in Shenzhen, China.
Gilas will field an 11-woman roster bannered by Jack Animam, Vanessa de Jesus, Ella Fajardo, and Louna Ozar. Notably absent, however, is University of Santo Tomas standout Kent Pastrana.
Despite the omission, Pastrana remains laser-focused on her ultimate goal: making a meaningful impact at the Asia Cup.
“Parang sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na kailangan ko paghandaan yung FIBA kasi mas more on physicality doon yung laruan kasi national team and mga pro na din yung mga kalaban,” Pastrana told Tiebreaker Times during the 2025 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night on Monday, June 30, at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas, Pasig.
“So yung pag-alis nila sa Jones Cup, yun yung days na kailangan namin maghanda and mag-ready yung katawan namin para sa mas mahirap na competition,” she added.
Pastrana’s mindset to prepare both mentally and physically comes at a critical time for Gilas, who are currently without key veterans Afril Bernardino, Janine Pontejos, Chack Cabinian, and Andrea Tongco — players presently serving active military duty.
(C) WMPBL
Rather than viewing their absence as a setback, the 5-foot-7 guard sees it as an opportunity to finally step into the spotlight, after years of being on the radar of head coach Pat Aquino.
“Personally po kasi hindi naman siya kinakabahan or what. Excited lang siguro ako na makipag-compete sa another level of basketball, another league na paglalaruan. Siguro I’m very happy din na binigyan din ako ng opportunity,” said Pastrana, a member of the CPC Women’s Basketball Mythical Five.
Adding to her confidence is the support system she has back home in España. Pastrana draws strength from Growling Tigresses coaches Haydee Ong and Sen Dysangco — both with deep ties to the national program.
Ong, who led the Gilas women’s team from 2008 to 2014, brought Dysangco into the fold as her assistant coach in 2012. Now, the duo continues to mentor Pastrana as she prepares for her international debut.
“Palagi nila sinasabi sa akin na kailangan ko raw ingatan yung sarili ko and maging healthy sa mga game. And tulad ng ginagawa namin sa UST, kailangan ko raw ibigay yung buong laro ko, hindi ko raw kailangan magkaroon ng doubts sa sarili ko para I can do my best every game. Sinasabi rin nila na tiwala lang daw ako sa sarili ko palagi,” she shared.
As she embarks on this next chapter with Gilas, Pastrana sees the national team stint as more than just a personal milestone — it’s also a way to elevate the UST program.
In her final year with the Growling Tigresses, the 24-year-old feels determined to bring back the team to UAAP glory in Season 88 alongside co-leaders Eka Soriano and Karylle Sierba.
“Kung ano yung matutunan ko, i-aapply ko sa Season 88 lalo’t na last year ko na. Tutulungan ko pa rin yung mga teammates ko gamit ang mga experience na ito at sa payo ng mga coaches,” Pastrana said.
#WATCH: Despite missing the Jones Cup roster, CPC Women’s Basketball Mythical Team member Kent Pastrana stays locked in and ready for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 🏀
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/G6iSwM9lWj
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) June 30, 2025
