MANILA, Philippines – Tinanggap na ng anak ng two-time PBA MVP Benjie Paras ang scholarship sa Los Angeles California, pagkakataon upang makapaglaro sa Amerika.
Nabigyan ng scholarship ng Cathedral High sa Los Angeles, California si Kobe Paras matapos magpakitang gilas at kilalaning slam dunk champion ng FIBA World Under-18 3x3 Championship.
Sinabi ng kanyang amang si Benjie na magandang pagkakataon ito para sa kanyang anak.
“It’s worth trying. And if things don’t turn out well, he can return to the Philippines anytime,†kuwento ng kaisa-isang rookie of the year at MVP sa kasaysayan ng PBA.
Kuwento pa ni Benjie na kailangang bumalik sa second year high school ng kanyang anak kapalit ng scholarship.
“The hitch is that, I think, he’s going back to second year since they have a different high school program there,†dagdag ng nakatatandang Paras.
Tinulungan ng San Mig Coffee Fil-Am forward Joe Devance na may koneksyon sa Cathedral High si Kobe upang makalipat mula La Salle Greenhills.
Masaya naman ang kuya ni Kobe na si Andrei na naglalaro naman para sa University of the Philippines.
“I hope he makes it. He’s taller than me, and my dad now. He’s about 6-foot-6 now and he plays guard,†sabi ni.
Sinabi pa ni Benjie na kung hindi man palarin sa Amerika ang kanyang anak ay maraming pinto naman ang bukas dito sa Pilipinas pagdating niya ng kolehiyo.
“As for us, we thought we won’t lose anything if we give it a try. There’s always the collegiate basketball here he can return to if he doesn’t make it there,†sabi ni Benjie.