University of Santo Tomas received a major boost in its bid to defend the UAAP collegiate women’s basketball title after securing the commitment of Filipino-American forward Kayla Williams on Friday.
With the Growling Tigresses facing uncertainty heading into the new season following the graduations of Kent Pastrana and Eka Soriano, the 6-foot forward from San Diego, California is expected to help fill the void in UST’s frontline.
Williams, 22, most recently suited up for Northern Arizona University, where she averaged 6.1 points in 12.5 minutes across 29 games. Her career-high performance came in a 32-point outing.
Before joining NAU, Williams played for Division II program Texas A&M University–Texarkana, where she became the school’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, and free throws made.
“‘Yung experience niya sa United States as a Division I player will help a lot, especially with leadership. Good problem na lang for us is ‘yung chemistry with her with around three months left before the season,” UST head coach Haydee Ong told Tiebreaker Times.
Williams, who already earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences – Fitness Wellness degree from NAU, will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Growling Tigresses starting in Season 89.
(C) Northern Arizona University
She is set to take up a Master of Business Administration degree at UST.
For Ong, Williams is an ideal fit for UST’s system because of her size, outside shooting, and court vision.
“She can play the four and five positions. Very crucial ‘yun kasi sa sistema ko, yung positions na yan, tapos consistent shooter siya from three points and good passer as well,” said Ong.
The two-time UAAP 5-on-5 champion coach also revealed that Williams was initially supposed to join the Growling Tigresses in Season 88, but the coaching staff advised her to finish her studies in the United States first.
“Actually, kilala ko na si Kayla nung second year college pa lang siya. May mga kaibigan tayong nasa Las Vegas, tapos nakita siya. Since then, may continuous communication na with her and her family,” said Ong.
“Dapat last year pa siya, pero sabi namin mas maganda kung tapusin na lang muna niya yung doon,” she added.
Williams, whose Filipino mother Nerlisa traces her roots to General Trias, Cavite, is expected to bolster the Growling Tigresses’ frontline alongside Nigerian center Oma Onianawa, the Danganan twins Kai Danganan and Coi Danganan, as well as CJ Maglupay.
