By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense Kent Pastrana powered the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses to a dominant showing as they stayed unbeaten in the UAAP collegiate 3×3 women’s tournament at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City on Tuesday, April 28.
Pastrana delivered five points and nine rebounds in a one-sided 13-2 victory over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws, stretching UST’s winning run to three games.
Brigette Santos chipped in four points, while Coi Danganan added three in the rout that underscored the Tigresses’ early control of the field.
“[I’m] so lucky to be playing with her in her last tournament here in the UAAP,” Fil-Australian rookie Erinn Mcalary said of Pastrana.
“It’s more motivation for us to play well in this tournament and hopefully win this to send her off properly,” she added.
FEU dropped into a tie for second place alongside the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles and the Adamson University Lady Falcons after absorbing their first loss.
The Blue Eagles leaned on Kacey dela Rosa and Kai Oani, who combined for all 14 points in a 14-8 win over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
Dela Rosa finished with eight points, while Oani added six.
Adamson, for their part, edged the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 19-17, behind Elaine Etang’s nine points and Cheska Apag’s six.
The National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs also broke into the win column despite suiting up only three players, turning back the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors, 19-16.
Aloha Betanio and Samantha Medina scored eight and seven points, respectively, while Bonie Solis contributed four.
In the men’s division, defending champion DLSU and Ateneo remained unscathed after three games, tightening their grip on the top spots.
The Green Archers dominated NU, 21-13, behind Luis Pablo’s eight points and five rebounds.
Doy Dungo and Jcee Macalalag added six and five markers, respectively.
Ateneo matched La Salle’s unbeaten slate with a 21-14 win over UE.
Andrew Bongo led with eight points, Shawn Tuano had seven, and Kyle Gamber chipped in five.
“We’re just trying to make the school proud. Too many years, even in 5-on-5, not even a Final 4 placement,” Tuano said.
“We’re just here, trying to bring something home and just trying to make the school proud. We have one goal in mind: bring home that gold. We want to bring that championship back to Ateneo. We will try to do that,” he added.
UP and Adamson climbed into a share of third place at 2-1 following clutch finishes.
Miguel Yñiguez knocked down his second straight game-winning deuce to lift the Fighting Maroons past FEU, 20-18, in overtime, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds while LA Andres added eight.
Adamson also needed late-game heroics, with Noah Pacquiao draining a buzzer-beating corner deuce to seal a 20-18 win over UST.
Pacquiao tallied 10 points in the victory.
FEU and NU fell to identical 1-2 records heading into Day 3 scheduled for Thursday, April 30./ASC, WDJ