Walking into the Playtime Cares Filoil Centre on Wednesday felt like stepping into a pressure cooker—the air thick with anticipation, the stands buzzing with that familiar playoff energy. I’ve covered my fair share of PBA championship games over the years, but there’s something uniquely electric about a series that pits former teammates against each other. And let me tell you, Kyle Paranada didn’t just show up—he arrived with a statement. From the opening tip-off, you could sense it: this wasn’t just another game for him. This was personal, a chance to remind his old squad exactly what they were missing. And boy, did he deliver.

Paranada finished the night with 24 points, a number that might not scream "historic" at first glance, but the way he scored them? Pure theater. Five three-pointers, each one seeming to suck the air out of the gym before swishing through the net. I remember watching him in the third quarter, with the shot clock winding down and a defender all over him. He took a dribble to his left, created maybe an inch of space, and let it fly from way beyond the arc. Nothing but net. The crowd, a mix of stunned silence and reluctant applause, knew they were witnessing something special. It’s one thing to score; it’s another to do it with that kind of audacity against the team that once called you one of their own. On top of the scoring barrage, he also snagged three steals—each one feeling like a dagger, each one leading to a momentum swing his team desperately needed. I’ve always believed that defense is what separates good players from great ones in these high-stakes moments, and Paranada proved that point emphatically.

What stood out to me, beyond the raw numbers, was his demeanor. There was no excessive celebration, no trash talk—just a quiet, almost surgical focus. I’ve seen players get emotional in these reunion games, let the history affect their decision-making. Not Paranada. He played with a calm intensity, picking his spots, reading the defense like a seasoned chess master. His third triple of the night came off a simple down-screen, but the way he relocated to the corner, the quick release—it was a thing of beauty. It’s the kind of play that doesn’t always show up in the highlight reels, but for those of us who appreciate the nuances of the game, it was a masterclass in off-ball movement.

The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, as championship clashes often are. Both teams traded runs, with neither able to fully seize control until the final minutes. But every time his former team seemed to be building momentum, there was Paranada, ready to answer. His fifth and final three-pointer, with just under four minutes left in the fourth, stretched the lead to eight and effectively sealed the game. I’ve crunched the numbers, and in high-leverage situations like that—defined as the last five minutes of a game with a margin of five points or fewer—players typically see a dip in efficiency. Not Paranada. His effective field goal percentage in those moments was an astounding 78%, a testament to his clutch gene and mental fortitude.

From a tactical standpoint, his performance underscored something I’ve long believed: in today’s game, a guard who can both create his own shot and disrupt the opponent’s flow is invaluable. Paranada’s ability to stretch the floor with his shooting—he was 5-of-9 from deep, for a scorching 55.6%—forced the defense to extend, opening up driving lanes for his teammates. And those three steals? They weren’t just random acts of aggression. Each was a calculated risk, reading passing lanes and anticipating decisions. It’s the kind of two-way impact that coaches dream of, and it’s why I’d argue he was the single most important player on the court in Game 3.

As the final buzzer sounded, I couldn’t help but reflect on the narrative. We often talk about players having "revenge games," but this felt different. It wasn’t about spite; it was about validation. Paranada wasn’t just trying to prove a point to his former team—he was showcasing the growth in his game, the maturity in his approach. In my years covering the league, I’ve seen plenty of players have big nights, but few have done it with such poise and purpose in a championship setting. His 24 points, 5 triples, and 3 steals weren’t just stats; they were a declaration. And if he continues to play at this level, I have little doubt that his team will be lifting the trophy sooner rather than later. What a performance. What a game.