Before UAAP Season 87 started, UST head coach Haydee Ong acknowledged that defending the title this year would not be an easy task for the Growling Tigresses, emphasizing that they did not have the “luxury” of being complacent.
Despite the Tigresses’ dominance throughout the season, complacency has repeatedly surfaced. UST star Kent Pastrana observed that this same complacency hindered them in the first three quarters of their game against UE, before they found rhythm in the fourth and pulled away for the win.
The Tigresses secured a 22-point win, 84-62, but their flaws were more evident compared to their dominant 42-point victory over the Lady Warriors in Round 1.
“Hindi gano’n ‘yong laro ng UST sa game ngayon,” said Pastrana, who finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and four steals “Parang kampante siguro, ‘yan ‘yong nakita ko ngayon. Alam ko namang may ilalabas pa sila; may ilalabas pa kami kung ano ‘yong laro talaga ng UST.”
The win improved UST’s win-loss record to 10-2, placing it second in the standings, behind only its finals rival last year, NU, which is on the cusp of another elimination-round sweep with two games left. Behind the Tigreses is Adamson with an 8-3 slate and three games left.
Holding onto the No. 2 seed would give the Tigresses major advantages in the playoffs: either a twice-to-beat edge in a traditional Final Four format, or, if the NU Lady Bulldogs sweep the eliminations, a direct slot into the battle for a finals spot.
With a guaranteed postseason spot and only awaiting the final playoff format, UST assistant coach Ged Austria said the Tigresses should display mental toughness in their remaining elimination games.
“We did not play the way we wanted to play in the first three quarters. I think it‘s clear na marami pang dapat gawin, marami pang corrections,” Austria said. “Knowing that isa ka sa nasa taas, ‘yong tendency talaga ‘yong mag-relax e.”
“Kailangan talaga mentally prepared ka kasi you can be physically good, you can be good at skills, you can be athletic, pero kung wala sa tamang hulog ‘yong isip mo, do’n nagkakagulo,” he added.
The Tigresses have a week to prepare for their game against the Lady Falcons, a team they, like in their recent match against UE, outworked in the final quarter after a slow start in their first-round meeting.
Pastrana hopes the Tigresses would be able to consistently display their true brand of play during the eliminations’ home stretch.
“Sa mga next game namin, kailangan namin ilabas kung ano talaga ‘yong laro ng UST, and kailangan namin mag-work as a team and sa defense namin,” she said.
The Growling Tigresses will next face the third-seeded Adamson Lady Falcons at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Saturday, Nov. 16, at noon. Rafael Paolo P. Salaya
