GROWLING TIGRESS star and Mythical Five awardee Kent Pastrana was holding back her tears when she faced the media after a heartbreaking loss in the UAAP Season 87 finals, but her toughness can be gleaned from her voice when she made a vow.
“To those who don’t believe in me, I want to show them what UST is all about. I want to bounce back. I really want to bounce back,” the 5-foot-7 forward said.
Pastrana decided to use her final playing year in the collegiate level, determined to achieve redemption in Season 88.
“Of course, I’ll come back for coach Haydee Ong because there’s still something I want to accomplish and prove to myself,” she said.
The Tigresses lost their crown to archrival NU Lady Bulldogs, 73-78, in Game 3 of the women’s basketball finals last Sunday, Dec. 15, a match that saw Pastrana struggling to power up her team.
She was limited to just eight points during the rubber match, although rookie guard Karylle Sierba stepped up with 20 points while veteran Tacky Tacatac had 14 markers during her last game with the España squad.
“I’m so proud of them and what they’ve done. Even though they were rookies and we were the underdogs, they showed courage. That’s why I’m so thankful to my teammates and the coaches who fought until the very end,” Pastrana said.
With the exit of Tacatac, the Tigresses still have Sierba, Brige Santos and Eka Soriano to lead the charge alongside Pastrana. F – Czarina Mari Agaton
