UST Growling Tigresses veteran and mythical five member Kent

Pastrana announced that she will be playing another season with the UST squad following their silver medal finish in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament, on Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pastrana was clamped down in the championship decider tallying seven points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, on 3-of-10 shooting from the field.

With the young core remaining intact and an anticipated addition of a foreign student-athlete who is still being kept anonymous by the team next season, Pastrana looks forward to a promising future in Season 88.

“Siyempre babalik ako. Babalik ako para kay coach Haydee,” she said.

“Meron pa ako gustong itupad and i-prove sa sarili ko na ‘yong mga taong hindi naniniwala sa amin, gusto kong ipakita sa kanila kung ano ‘yong UST. Gusto kong bumawi,” she added.

The 24-year-old Negros-native also took pride in how her teammates rose to the occasion in the nail-biting finals series.

“Sobrang proud lang ako sa mga kasama ko kasi lumaban sila hanggang dulo. Siguro for me, hindi ko sila naipaglaban lalo na ‘yong promise ko kay Tacky na bibigyan ko siya ng magandang exit pero sobrang proud ako sa kanila, sa ginawa nila,” the star forward said.

“Kahit rookie sila, kahit dehado kami, pinakita nila ‘yong tapang nila. Nailaban [ng team] ‘yong UST kaya sobrang thankful ako sa mga teammates ko and coaches na lumaban [din para sa amin] hanggang dulo,” she said.

KiTackyts muli Tacatac!

UST sharpshooter Tacky Tacatac will be the only graduating member of the Growling Tigresses after maximizing her five-year playing eligibility.

Tacatac logged 14 points in her final game for UST after averaging 11.56 points per game and shooting 34% from long range this season.

Tacatac turned emotional after thanking coach Haydee Ong and the UST community for the support given to her throughout her stay.

“Grabe talaga ‘yong tinulong sa akin nila coach Haydee. Since 2018 till now, hindi talaga nila ako pinapabayaan. Lahat naman, lahat ng hinawakan ni coach, hindi niya talaga kami pinapabayaan and tinutulungan niya talaga [lahat ng players sa team],” Tacatac said.

“Hindi ako magiging ganito kung hindi dahil sa iyo [coach Haydee]. Thank you sa ilang years nating pagsasama and good luck next year. Kahit wala na ako [sa team] susuportahan ko pa rin kayo,” she said to her coach.

While Tacatac and Pastrana would have to settle for a second-place finish for five-on-five basketball, the Growling Tigresses duo are still on course to defend their UAAP womens’ 3x3 crown next semester.