MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras, son of the PBA's only Rookie MVP winner Benjie, is making a name for himself in the United States.
Paras, 16, exploded with 22 points he highlighted with three booming triples before fouling out with 48 seconds to go in a 57-50 defeat by Los Angeles Cathedral to Long Beach Poly in the DeMar DeRozan tournament Friday.
Los Angeles Times' Eric Sondheimer reported that Paras' electrifying performance wowed the crowd, who chanted "Ko-Be, Ko-Be, Ko-Be" as if he was talismanic Lakers star Kobe Bryant, the player the Filipino was named for.
Paras flew to the US last year to join Cathedral where he grew from a 6-3 guard to a 6-6 forward.
On this particular game against Poly, Paras, stepping up in the absence of Lucas Siewert, a 6-10 junior from Brazil known for his shooting skills, played center and guarded 6-8 Jordan Dallas with some success.
"He's OK," Cathedral coach William Middlebrooks told the LA Times, referring to Paras, part of the Phl team that made it to last year's FIBA 3x3 World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia – the same tournament where he emerged the slam dunk champion after edging much heralded foes from the US, Spain and China.
"He's got a lot to learn," he added.
Paras, who was born in 1997 or the year when Bryant's star started to shine, said he was inspired with the Kobe chants.
"It's motivation when they scream my name, I can get pumped," Paras told the LA Times.