University of Santo Tomas standouts Gelo Crisostomo and Kent Pastrana found themselves in unfamiliar territory over the weekend, but nonetheless helped secure statement victories for the España-based institution as the UAAP Season 88 basketball emanated from the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.
Crisostomo anchored both ends for the Growling Tigers in their historic 98-89 triumph over home team Ateneo de Manila University in triple-overtime – the first game of its kind in the men’s basketball Final Four era.
On the other hand, Pastrana took charge of the Growling Tigresses just in time to taint Ateneo’s erstwhile unblemished record via a 77-66 victory, while also preserving their own spotless campaign.
As the league finally returned to the Blue Eagle Gym for the first time in nearly two decades, Crisostomo and Pastrana seized the spotlight to be named the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Players of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the period of October 8 to 12.
Crisostomo not only propelled the Pido Jarencio-led squad to a solo-second 4-1 record, it also allowed him to best his teammates Nic Cabañero and Collins Akowe, University of the Philippines’ Noy Remogat and Harold Alarcon, and National University’s Jake Figueroa for the weekly award sponsored by Discovery Suites and Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things.
“Last few games, pangit yung laro ko. Pero tinulungan lang ako ng teammates ko na mag-focus,” said Crisostomo, who only previously averaged 5.8 markers and 5.0 boards before the Ateneo showdown.
The 6-foot-5 forward did damage mostly in the extended periods to complete his career-best 18-point, 17-rebound game with four assists and a block, as he got the nod over worthy rivals in a highly-contested vote among scribes covering the collegiate beat.
Meanwhile, it was a third-quarter takeover for Pastrana against the Ateneo as UST won its fourth straight in as many games.
“Hindi lang talaga kami bumitaw, at pinakita namin yung puso namin sa court,” said Pastrana, who earned the weekly citation after tallying 28 points, 11 rebounds and four steals.
The star senior stepped up just as Oma Onianwa prematurely exited the battle of unbeaten squads due to foul trouble, and the numbers of the Gilas Pilipinas ace got her nod over her fellow UST stalwart Brigette Santos, NU’s Tine Cayabyab and Karl Pingol, Far Eastern University’s Shemaiah Abatayo, and Adamson University’s Cheska Apag.
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PHOTOS-UAAP Media Group: Photos 1 & 2 UST Gelo Crisostomo (#10); Photos 3 & 4 UST Kent Pastrana (#5)
