Tigresses brace for tough UAAP title defense

MANILA, Philippines – Defending champions UST Growling Tigresses are expecting a tougher challenge in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball tournament slated to begin on Sunday, September 8, at the Adamson University Gym and Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After ending a 17-year title drought with their three-game conquest of the NU Lady Bulldogs in Season 86, head coach Haydee Ong said it will be a harder job to keep the crown in España.

“Of course [mas mahirap ngayon], kasi defending champion ka. Lahat ng teams will be looking at you, ‘di ba? They will prepare for you,” Ong told the media during the pre-tournament press conference at Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City on Wednesday. 

“Ito yung maganda na challenge because as champions, kailangan you have to work harder ‘di ba? [The team] will have to have more teamwork, more chemistry. I think yun yung mga vital parts para ma-retain yung championship.”

UST’s title defense faces a challenge as Finals Most Valuable Player Tantoy Ferrer will not be playing for the Tigresses anymore, having exhausted all her playing years for her team.

Still with veteran holdovers, Ong believes that her team will be able to step up to the challenge with an even more competitive field of opponents.

“Maganda sa team namin, I still have three veterans — si Tacky [Tacatac], si Kent [Pastrana], and si Eka [Soriano]. So I think ito yung magiging cornerstone for this season,” she said.

Pastrana, who was also named the Collegiate Press Corps Women’s Basketball Player of the Year last June, will be leaned on by her team when it comes to leadership. Now settled with UST after one year of playing for the Tigresses, Ong believes her blue-chip recruit will be up for the challenge.

“Sinabi ko kay Kent, this year will be a different role kasi everybody’s going to eye for her na siya yung magiging top scorer ng UST, I think maganda rin ngayon sa team because of the five rookies that are coming in na very dependable na magagamit ko sa rotation,” said the veteran tactician. 

“Yung pressure kay Kent dun sa scoring medyo matatanggal sa kanya yun, which is makakapag concentrate siya more on the defense and sa leadership ng team.”

Among the rookies to join UST this season are Karylle Sierba, Gin Relliquette, Jaja Pescador and Bre Pineda.

All things considered, UST will simply take things one game at a time.

“I think one game at a time pa rin kami. We’ll just do our very best every step of the way, every game. The tournament is three months, matagal siya so one game at a time lang yung preparation namin,” she said.

“I think every season naman may pressure kahit hindi ka defending champion eh. I just told them to embrace the pressure and put the pressure into a positive energy every time.”

UST opens its title defense against the UE Lady Warriors at the Araneta Coliseum at 9 a.m. on Sunday, September 8.