Romwel Anzures

University of Santo Tomas star and UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball Finals MVP Kent Pastrana. Photo from UAAP Media.

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<div style="line-height:1.5"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765708310590UAAP 88 WBB Finals G3 UST vs. NU- Kent Pastrana-04403.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>University of Santo Tomas star and UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball Finals MVP Kent Pastrana. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — University of Santo Tomas served as a safe haven for Kent Pastrana when she was looking for a home away from home, and the winger from Negros Occidental made sure to repay her alma mater.</div>The 5-foot-7 senior capped off her stint in España the same way she started it, as a UAAP women’s basketball champion, with Pastrana making sure the crown did not slip from their hands this time around.<div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/14/uaap-ust-women-triumph-over-national-u-to-clinch-season-88-crown-1512">READ: UST women triumph over National U to clinch Season 88 crown</a></div>“Yung sakripisyo namin ng ilang years, ito na,” said the Gilas Pilipinas star, who was named Finals MVP of the UAAP Season 88 title round which UST won over National University via a 79-64 Game 3 victory on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.“Kahit ang layo namin sa family namin, worth it, kasi ito na yung bunga ng pinaghirapan namin,” she added, after averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.8 steals in the three-game series.UST not only served as Pastrana’s second home as she pursued her collegiate career. It was also the institution that gave her UAAP career a second life after she exited De La Salle University in 2022 due to “personal reasons.”“Kahit galing ako sa ibang school, tinanggap nila ako ng buong-buo,” said Pastrana, the Season 82 Rookie of the Year and a Mythical Team member during her lone playing year in Taft Avenue.In her three years with UST, Pastrana was a three-time Mythical Five selection, reached the Finals in all three seasons, and capped it all off with a pair of championships.But above the countless awards and accomplishments, what she values most is how UST embraced her as one of its own.“Hindi ko na iniisip yun masyado, na malayo ako sa family ko, na nahihirapan ako dito,” Pastrana said. “Pinaramdam nila sa akin na part ako ng family ng UST.”“Lahat kami nag-grow dahil dito. Nagtutulungan na kami palagi kung ano yung mga kailangan naming i-improve pa sa sarili namin,” she added.Pastrana now leaves UST with a legacy that will be hard to match, but instead of seeing it as pressure, Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong urged her players to use it as inspiration to become better athletes and individuals.“Yan yung mamimiss mo sa mga players mo, yung impact nila as a player and as a leader,” Ong said. “Pero life must go on, the program must go on.”“Kailangan mag-step up ang mga maiiwan, kung sino ngayon ang magfi-fill ng role na iniwan ni Kent. We will still grow and hopefully, come Season 89, mayroong bagong Kent Pastrana na magfi-fill ng shoes niya,” she added.

#UAAPSeason88 || The 5-foot-7 senior capped off her stint in España the same way she started it, as a UAAP women’s basketball champion, with Pastrana making sure the crown did not slip from their hands this time around. #UAAPFinals

#UAAPSeason88 || The 5-foot-7 senior capped off her stint in España the same way she started it, as a UAAP women’s basketball champion, with Pastrana making sure the crown did not slip from their hands this time around. #UAAPFinals

UAAP: UST a home away from home for Finals MVP Kent Pastrana

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UAAP: UST a home away from home for Finals MVP Kent Pastrana

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 14, 2025 06:55 PM PHT

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Basketball

UAAP

ABSSports

UAAP Season 88

UAAP Basketball

UAAP Finals

NU Lady Bulldogs

UST Growling Tigresses

Kent Pastrana

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