Despite being the new girl at University of Santo Tomas, Kent Pastrana has been the focal point of the Growling Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The 5-foot-7 winger from Silay City is averaging 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 steals in UST’s wins over the University of the East and Adamson University.
Even Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong admitted that Pastrana is a godsend to her team.
“Even when Kent was still in Silay, I always thought she was special. I think it’s God’s will that she ended up at UST, and we won’t take her for granted,” said Ong.
However, on Sunday, she will confront an old ghost.
For the first time, she will face her former team, De La Salle University.
Back in 2019, Pastrana shone brightly for the Lady Archers, winning the Rookie of the Year honor.
However, she left La Salle during the pandemic.
Pastrana has mixed emotions about meeting the Lady Archers on the court once more.
“Excited po ako pero mag-stick pa rin ako sa system kung ano yung dapat ko gawin. Hindi ako magpapadala sa pressure. Maniniwala pa rin ako sa coaches at sistema namin,” she said.
For her part, Ong will do everything in her power to keep Pastrana’s emotions in check heading into the game.
“Mental talaga e. Siyempre pag galing ka sa isang school, excited ka. Dapat ma-tone down yun and stick sa gameplan,” Ong said.
