Kent Pastrana: The Tigress Who Refused to Back Down

Some players grow up on playground courts, others pick up the sport after watching their fathers play. For UST Growling Tigresses star Kent Pastrana, it started with watching her older brothers. She wanted to join them, even when the beginning wasn’t easy.

Kent spent years on the sidelines watching her brothers hoop, wondering what it would feel like to try it herself. Being the only girl at home, her brothers initially didn’t approve of her stepping into what they saw as a boys’ sport.

“Nag-start ako ng basketball since when I was in grade 5 but nung una ayaw pa ng mga kuya ko kasi only girl ako sa magkakapatid namin that time and nung nakita ko maglaro sila kuya, masaya ako na nakita sila maglaro. And parang sabi ko, itatry ko rin yung basketball. But, before ako nag-basketball player, marami akong sports muna na sinalihan.”

In time, the resistance faded. Her brothers allowed her to play, and that opened the door for her first recruitment: a high school in Silay City. That move exposed her to scouts from Manila, paving the way for collegiate opportunities with DLSU first, and later the UST Growling Tigresses.

“Nung pinayagan na nila ako maglaro, parang masaya na ako. And of course, nung nag high school na ako, kinuha ako ng school sa Silay City. And dun ako nakita ng iba-ibang university sa Manila, and nakuha ko ng una ng LaSalle, and now dito na po ako sa UST.”

Kent spent five years at DLSU, using one playing year in the UAAP before moving to UST, where she’s now completing her third and final season with the Tigresses. She says the shift between programs and cultures wasn’t as hard as she expected, thanks to the support around her.

“Um, personally, sa culture lang siguro, and sa program ng basketball. But, mostly, marami naman siyang pinakaiba talaga yung La Salle and UST and naka-adjust naman kahit papano. And of course, sa support ng mga coaches and mga teammates ko and ng mga kaibigan ko, hindi na ako nahirapan na mag-adjust kung ano yung culture ng UST.”

Now 25 and one of the most seasoned players in the UAAP, Kent admits that the version of her teammates see every day isn’t always the same one fans see on the court. Behind the scenes, she’s strict — pushing teammates to sharpen their habits so game days can be more fluid and enjoyable.

“Very strict siguro. Pero kasi hindi nakikita yun sa loob ng court. Siguro ganun ako. Super strict ako sa mga kasama ko when it comes sa training. Parang sa game, parang ano lang, enjoy-enjoy lang. Pero when it comes to training, sobrang strict ko talaga sa kanila. Para, of course, para mag-improve kami individually.”

She believes her growth came from mistakes she refused to shy away from. Add discipline, work ethic, and trust in her coaches, and she built herself into one of the league’s most reliable stars, a reputation that continues this season, especially with her recent 35-point explosion against UE and multiple standout games in UST’s strong Season 88 run.

“Yung disiplina din sa sarili siguro. And of course, yung sipag, tyaga, na di na tatakot magkamali. Kasi alam ko pag nagkakamali ako, doon ako mas matuto eh. And siguro kailangan din, tiwala din sa mga coaches na tumutulong sa’yo sa paligid and parang wala pong pressure. Pero parang ano, excited lang sa magiging result sa UAAP na to. And of course, ano kami, excited na makuha namin ulit yung finals this season. And naniniwala ko na makukuha namin ulit.”

This season is especially meaningful for Pastrana. It’s her last dance in the UAAP, and she’s leaving nothing behind. With UST pushing for a Finals return, and with Pastrana consistently delivering big games — including a 28-point showing against Ateneo and leadership in locking up an early Final Four berth — her urgency shows.

“One game at a time lang. And araw-araw, trabaho kami ulit kung ano yung game plan namin, kung sino yung kalaban namin. And of course, parang di kami kampante na kaya namin matalo yung ibang kalaban. Siyempre ano lang muna, sino lang muna yung kalaban namin, doon muna kami mag-focus. And aaralin pa namin yung mga mali namin para ma-improve po namin yung mga sarili namin. And yung mga kailangan pa namin ni-adjust sa loob ng court po.”

As UST fights for a championship and Pastrana closes her collegiate chapter, her journey, from the lone girl who wasn’t allowed to play to one of the most impactful players in women’s college basketball, sets the tone for how she wants to finish: accountable, focused, and all in.

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