By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Oma Onianwa may have stolen the spotlight in her UAAP debut, but it was Negrense veteran guard Kent Pastrana who provided the steadying hand as the University of Santo Tomas (UST) blasted De La Salle University (DLSU), 105-56, to open its Season 88 women’s basketball redemption bid in style at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday evening, September 27.
Playing in her final UAAP year, Pastrana showcased her all-around game despite scoring 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
However, her mark left with 11 assists, five rebounds and four steals, embodying the leadership role expected from her in UST’s campaign.
Pastrana’s composure allowed UST’s offense to click seamlessly, freeing up opportunities for Onianwa, Jaja Pescador and Karylle Sierba to pile on the points.
Onianwa, the Nigerian newcomer, announced her arrival with a monster double-double — 15 points, 19 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block — while teaming up with Pastrana to spearhead the Tigresses’ early breakaway.
“I just told the girls that what we did in our preseason and the preparations, we just wanted to do our best, especially on our defensive side,” UST head coach Haydee Ong said.
“There are some miscommunication and other things that need to be improved, so by Wednesday against [National University], hopefully we can polish all those things,” she added.
The Tigresses were relentless from the get-go, racing to a 28-point halftime lead, 56-28, behind Onianwa’s 11-point, 15-rebound showing, and Pastrana’s floor command.
By the third quarter, contributions from rookie Barby Dajao, Coi Danganan and fourth-year guard Brigette Santos stretched the gap to 80-45, leaving La Salle with little room to recover.
Aside from Pastrana and Onianwa, UST drew 12 points each from Pescador and Breana Pineda, while Santos also chipped in 11 markers with six assists.
Sierba added 10 points and three steals in the balanced Tigresses attack.
On the other side, La Salle — dealing with the exits of Lee Sario, Luisa San Juan and Bernice Paraiso to the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League — leaned on Tricia Mendoza’s 15 points and Kyla Sunda’s 11, but struggled to keep pace./ASC, WDJ