UAAP: Kent Pastrana struggles but still leads UST past Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines — Kent Pastrana overcame her home game struggles, delivering the baskets when it mattered most to lead the University of Santo Tomas past Ateneo, 77-73, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament on Saturday at UST’s Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Pastrana was a marked player in the first three quarters but got her act together in the fourth, unleashing a personal 7-2 run to give UST a 10-point cushion, 69-59, with 4:09 remaining.

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The UAAP Season 86 Athlete of the Year scored 10 of her 16 points in the payoff period.

READ: UAAP: UST Tigresses, NU Lady Bulldogs stay in the lead

UST Growling Tigresses relish their home game win after beating the Ateneo Blue Eagle at the QPav. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/KlcQfgeGfy

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 19, 2024

Junize Calago, Kacey Dela Rosa, and Sarah Makanjuola powered the Blue Eagles to cut the home team’s lead down to three, 76-73, with 11.6 seconds left.

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But Season 85 MVP Eka Soriano sealed the game despite splitting her free throws as the Growling Tigresses bolstered their Final Four bid with their eighth win in nine games.

“It’s a total team effort of course. Lahat nagtrabaho, alam niyo naman ‘yung waterloo namin is si Kacey and sa FSA nila so the girls really worked hard talaga para manalo today,” said UST coach Haydee Ong. 

Pastrana wasn’t happy in their home game after shooting 5-of-18 from the field and 6-of-13 from the free-throw line but tallied eight rebounds and four steals. 

READ: UAAP: UST Tigresses, Ateneo score blowout wins

Brigette Santos contributed 15 points and five assists for UST. Tacky Tacatac fired four triples to finish with 12 points, while Karylle Sierba and Agatha Bron had 11 points each to extend their winning run to five games.

Ateneo lost its third straight game, still at fourth with a 4-5 record despite Dela Rosa’s ninth straight double-double with 23 points and 18 rebounds.

Calago had 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists but had 10 turnovers, while Makanjuola had 14 points and 14 rebounds. 

The Scores:

UST 77 – Pastrana 16, Santos 15, Tacatac 12, Sierba 11, Bron 11, Maglupay 5, Soriano 3, Serrano 2, Ambos 2, Danganan 0, Amatong 0, Relliquette 0.

Ateneo 73 – Calago 23, Dela Rosa 23, Makanjuola 14, Batongbakal 6, Oani 5, Villacruz 2, Angala 0, Eufemanio 0, Cruza 0, Cancio 0.

Quarterscores: 21-26, 43-37, 62-57, 77-73