The NU Lady Bulldogs’ dominance this season has somewhat overshadowed the UST Growling Tigresses’ standing as defending champions, but the España-based squad is eager to prove that last year’s title win against NU was no accident.
NU has established itself as the team to beat this season, sweeping the eliminations and securing an outright spot in the finals. In contrast, the UST Growling Tigresses claimed the second-best record at 12-2, with both of their losses handed to them by NU.
UST veteran and former MVP Eka Soriano said the Tigresses are determined to silence their doubters as they gear up for the UAAP Season 87 stepladder semifinals.
“May gusto rin kaming patunayan para sa sarili namin na hindi kami naka-tsamba lang,” she told the Varsitarian.
“Siyempre, lahat naman may gustong patunayan, and nasa amin na kung bibitawan namin ‘to o hindi.”
UST head coach Haydee Ong lamented the Tigresses’ inconsistencies during the eliminations, pointing out lapses in both offense and defense that were only resolved in their final game.
The Tigresses wrapped up the eliminations with a convincing 70-52 victory over DLSU, dominating early with a 20-3 first-quarter lead and maintaining control throughout.
“I think ‘yong last game namin, so against La Salle, we started strong and ended strong,” Ong told the Varsitarian. “‘Yon ‘yong gusto namin coming into the Final Four. I think that was our best performance for the elimination round with the La Salle win.”
UST sharpshooter Tacky Tacatac is no stranger to these inconsistencies.
She had a slow start in the first round, averaging 8.0 points while shooting 34.09% from deep. However, she picked up the pace in the second round, averaging 17.14 points and 4.57 triples per game.
“Parang bigla na lang nag-sink in sa akin na hindi dapat gano’n ‘yong performance ko noong first round. Bumawi talaga ako noong second round, kaya gano’n, grateful ako na nakabalik ako at nakatulong ako sa team,” Tacatac told the Varsitarian.
“Hopefully, this Final Four, sana mag tuloy-tuloy na ‘yong performance ko or maiangat ko pa para matulungan ko ‘yong team na makapasok sa finals and makuha ‘yong championship.”
In the semifinals, star forward Kent Pastrana expects veteran leadership from herself, Tacatac, and Soriano.
Pastrana, who finished as the runner-up in the MVP race and earned her third Mythical Five honor, delivered a well-rounded performance in the eliminations with 15.21 points, 8.36 rebounds, and 3.29 assists per game.
“Kung saan ako mas kailangan ng team, doon ako tutulong. Ikaw ‘yong mag-seset ng good example, ikaw ‘yong magse-set ng good start,” Pastrana told the Varsitarian. “Para ‘yong mga kasama mo na mga bata, susunod sa iyo.”
Soriano, along with Tacatac, has taken on the veteran role since Season 85, when she won the MVP plum and the Tigresses bagged bronze.
However, Soriano has stepped back this season, benefitting from the support of Pastrana and other key cogs in Brigette Santos, Rachelle Ambos, Agatha Bron, and Cee-jay Maglupay, as well as rising stars Karylle Sierba and Gin Reliquette.
“Ibang-iba siya, ‘yong mga panahon na ‘yon, ako lang inaasahan, konti lang kami na beterano,” Soriano said. “Ngayon sobrang madaming pwedeng pagkatiwalaan nila coach, ang daming puwedeng maging leader. So ngayon, parang ‘di ako nafu-frustrate sa nilalaro ko.”
Whatever role Ong assigns to her in the semifinals, Soriano is ready to embrace it. And if the moment calls for it, she’s prepared to elevate her game.
“Masaya ako dahil parang chance ko ‘to para makabalik, para patunayan ulit ‘yong sarili ko,” she said. “For me, ginagawa ko lang ‘yong pinapagawa ng mga coaches. Alam ko may kulang pa pero hopefully, this coming semis and finals mas malaro ko pa ‘yong nilalaro ko.”
As the Tigresses face Adamson in the second round of the stepladder semifinals on Dec. 4, Soriano said she hopes the team continues the championship culture established last season.
“Ito na ‘yong chance namin e. Kumbaga sayang naman ‘yong pinundar ni Nikki (Villasin) and Tantoy (Ferrer),” Soriano said. “Umalis sila na champions so pangit naman kung bibitawan namin basta-basta. Nandito na kami e, so lalaban na namin hanggang dulo.” with reports from Brenn Allen L. Flores Marco Luis D. Beech and Janica Kate J. Buan
