Pastrana and Soriano: The Twin Engines Driving UST's Women's Basketball Resurgence

The UST Growling Tigresses faced an uncomfortable reality after dropping Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 championship series—their maiden setback following a flawless 14-0 elimination round campaign. Rather than spiraling, the team responded with quiet intensity. Head coach Haydee Ong orchestrated extended training sessions, methodically dissecting their execution gaps while instilling unwavering confidence that the trophy would return to campus.

“All of our mistakes are going to be lessons learned for us so that we will come back stronger,” Ong reflected during a practice session at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. Her faith proved prescient. In the ensuing Games 2 and 3 matchups against NU, graduating seniors Kent Pastrana and Eka Soriano orchestrated a championship turnaround, ultimately delivering the Tigresses their second title within three years.

Redemption Written in Statistics

The title-clinching Game 3 showcased precisely why Ong describes Pastrana and Soriano as “heaven-sent.” Pastrana’s line read 16 points alongside 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Soriano complemented this output with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists—numbers reflecting far more than individual brilliance but rather a collective commitment to winning.

“We wouldn’t have gotten this if we didn’t help everyone,” Soriano emphasized, reflecting on the partnership that has anchored UST’s women’s program since Season 86. “I told Kent, we can’t do this alone. We need to bring the whole team.” This philosophy transcended locker room platitudes. It manifested in Soriano securing the Season 85 MVP award before joining Pastrana, herself a Season 82 La Salle Rookie of the Year transitioning into her residency with the Tigresses.

By Season 86, the two had crystallized Ong’s championship vision into reality, toppling NU’s seven-year women’s crown dominance. Yet Season 87 delivered heartbreak—a finals loss that stung persistently. This campaign, however, represented reclamation: an unblemished regular season followed by a two-game sweep of their rivals.

Culture Over Credentials

Pastrana’s Season 88 Finals MVP trophy proved almost secondary to her championship objective. “My only goal is to win the championship,” she clarified, prioritizing collective hardware over individual accolades. This mindset permeates UST’s practice environments daily. The squad continuously challenges one another to incrementally improve—“even 1%, 2%, even a little bit”—recognizing that marginal gains compound into championship performance.

Soriano emphasized this developmental ecosystem: “We all help each other to improve individually, not just as a team.” The pride she expressed extended beyond her own teammates to include coaching staff “who guided me,” underscoring the unified identity Ong has cultivated.

Building Dynasties from High School Foundations

Ong’s championship success stems partly from vision transcending the collegiate level. When she assumed her role in 2016, budget constraints prevented traditional star recruitment. Instead, she invested in a player development pipeline beginning at UST’s high school program—a strategic decision that yielded future collegiate cornerstones including Karylle Sierba, Gin Relliquette, CJ Maglupay, Brig Santos, and the Danganan twins (Coi and Kai).

“The player development program that I instilled in UST, that’s the most important,” Ong explained, distinguishing her methodology from resource-dependent approaches. Those remaining committed to the Tigresses’ system proved uniquely equipped to execute her demanding standards—they inherently understood “how the program in UST works.”

The Golden Era Continues

As Pastrana and Soriano transition into post-collegiate life, Ong faces the dual challenge of honoring their departing leadership while propelling the program forward. “I will miss Eka. I will miss Kent, and life must go on. The program must go on,” Ong acknowledged. “The players need to step up to fill the shoes that Kent and Eka left.”

Yet Ong’s confidence remains unshaken. She envisions upcoming seasons producing “a new Kent Pastrana and a new Eka Soriano,” continuations of the Tigresses’ winning blueprint. The foundation has been constructed, the culture embedded, and the development pathways established. With such architecture in place, UST women’s basketball appears positioned for sustained excellence beyond this championship chapter.