Kyle Paranada banners the four Filipino-foreign players coming to the University of Santo Tomas as the Growling Tigers continue to build their squad under head coach Pido Jarencio.
Paranada averaged 11.64 points, 4.21 assists, 2.86 rebounds, and 1.64 steals in 23 minutes for UE last year in UAAP Season 85 as the Red Warriors missed the Final Four with a 5-9 win-loss record.
He will sit out the upcoming UAAP Season 86 via residency but he will be available for two seasons.
Ashon Andrews will play for the Tigers after only playing three games in the preseason with the University of the Philippines.
Geremy Robinson Jr., son of former PBA import Geremy Robinson, will try his luck in UST after riding the bench last season at De La Salle University.
Robinson Jr. will be eligible for four more playing years in the UAAP.
Leland Estacio averaged 3.6 points on 40 percent shooting from three, and 1.6 boards in 11.8 minutes in his sophomore year for West Valley College in Saratoga, California, and will play for UST for two years.
Jarencio stressed UST is also gearing up for future seasons, something rival schools like La Salle, UP, and defending champion Ateneo de Manila University have been doing.
“This is a preparation for the future and I am happy with the bond they are sharing. This is proof that they believe in the system we want to execute here in UST,” Jarencio said.
“They’re joining the team now so that they can understand the system. Once they play, they’ll be ready.”
This new batch of Tigers will join the likes of Nic Cabañero and SJ Moore as they seek to forget last year’s 1-13 record in UAAP Season 85.