MANILA, Philippines – Ginamit ni basketball phenom Kobe Paras ang social media para ihayag ang kanyang pormal na pagla-laro para sa UCLA Bruins sa susunod na taon.
“Officially a Bruin,” sabi ni Paras sa kanyang Instagram post. “In can’t wait for the next chapters of my life…. This one is for my family back home.”
Tinanggap ni Bruins’ head coach Steve Alford ang pirmadong National Letter of Intent ng 6-foot-6 na si Paras, naglaro para sa Cathedral High School at nauna nang nangako noong Oktubre ng 2014 na kakampan-ya para sa UCLA.
“We’re always looking for players who’ve grown up immersed in basketball, and Kobe definitely fits that mold,” ani Alford sa anak ni PBA great Benjie Paras. “He just loves the game.”
Naniniwala din si Alford na malaki ang maitutulong ng pagiging agresibo ni Paras para sa Bruins sa 2016-2017 season.
“To add a talented player like Kobe to our program is terrific. He’s a very athletic guard who plays with tremendous energy. We like how he can attack off the dribble and get to the rim in the open court,” ani Alford.
Naglalaro sa kasalukuyan si Paras para sa Middlebrooks Academy Team.
Pinangunahan ni Paras ang Pilipinas sa ilang international competitions katulad ng nakaraang FIBA Asia Under-18 3x3 Championships.