Kobe Paras-led rally not enough as Phantoms yield to Lions

MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras keyed a late charge but it was not enough to complete the LA Cathedral Phantoms' comeback bid as the Fairfax Lions escaped with a 59-55 win in the finals of the Huntington Park High School Championship on Sunday (Monday Manila time).

Paras scored a 3-pointer, his last in the game, with 1:17 left as the Phantoms tried to come back from 17 points down and cut the lead down to just nine, 46-54.

The Phantoms outscored the Lions, 23-10, in the fourth quarter with Paras' 3-pointer fueling a 12-5 windup but still came up short.

Milan Acquaah led the Phantoms with 23 points while Paras ended up with a dozen before fouling out in the final minute.

Donald Gipson led the Lions, who remained unbeaten in 14 games, with 20 points.

The Phantoms slid to 12-2, their second loss after starting the season with nine straight wins. Their other loss came just last week in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Preps Championship.

The UCLA-bound Paras has been a vital cog for the vastly improved Phantoms, who are currently ninth in the Los Angeles Times' latest top 25 high school teams rankings in Southern California.

Fairfax sits at second spot.

Paras and the Phantoms will next face Bishop Montgomery, currently ranked fourth with a 14-1 win-loss record, at home in a non-conference game on January 16.