UE guard Kyle Paranda leads the Red Warriors to latest UAAP win. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Kyle Paranada shot the lights out in cold blood to send University of the East past La Salle, 81-74, in a whirlwind finish Wednesday night at the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
The cat-quick Paranada poured 13 of his team-high 20 points near the end of the fourth as the Red Warriors rose from eight points down with six minutes left and turned back the highly favored Green Archers following the latter’s conquest of arch rival Ateneo Blue Eagles.
“This is a big confidence-booster for us because La Salle is a big team and possibly a championship team,’’ said Paranada, who banked the go-ahead basket in transition that triggered the upset inside the final two minutes.
Nick Paranada, Kyle’s brother, added 18 points and Luis Villegas had 16, his three from the corner completing the Red Warriors’ turnaround, 70-69, on the way to tying the Green Archers to an even 2-2 record.
“It was a long time since UE won over La Salle. NU’s upset (of UP) in the other game inspired us, so we did everything we can to beat them,’’ said UE coach Jack Santiago.
The Warriors last defeated the Archers in 2019.
Schonny Winston torched the hoops with 26 points, but became eerily silent during UE’s comeback as well as Kevin Quiambao, who contributed 15 points only to end up scoreless in the crucial moments.
PUMAREN SYSTEM
“They just followed the instructions, stuck to the game plan and thankfully our boys responded. This was an acid test for us as we aim to become one of the four big teams,’’ said Santiago.
Santiago added UE’s flourishing system can be attributed to the structure laid down by former UE coach and now La Salle mentor Derrick Pumaren.
“The system we are having right now is the system of Manong Derrick. It’s actually the system of the Pumarens,’’ said Santiago, a long-time assistant of Pumaren. “Hopefully this victory will carry us in another big game come Sunday.’’
The Scores
UE 81 — K. Paranada 20, N. Paranada 18, Villegas 16, Stevens 8, Payawal 7, Sawat 5, Alcantara 3, Guevarra 2, Abatayo 2, Antiporda 0, Beltran 0, Remogat 0.
LA SALLE 74 — Winston 26, Quiambao 15, Estacio 7, Austria 6, Cortez 6, B. Phillips 5, Abadam 4, M. Phillips 3, Nwankwo 2, Manuel 0, Macalalag 0.
Quarters: 16-16, 34-36, 51-56, 81-74.