Cardinals survive Kobe Paras' 35-point explosion

MANILA, Philippines -- Cantwell-Sacred Heart Cardinals survived Kobe Paras' 35-point explosion as they got back at LA Cathedral Phantoms, 72-66, in overtime on Friday (Saturday Manila time) in Los Angeles.

Paras hit six three-pointers and had 33 in the regulation but was held down to just two points in extra time where the Cardinals outscored the Phantoms, 13-7.

Paras' Brazilian teammate Lucas Siewert forced the overtime with a big three-pointer in the final 26 seconds to tie the game at 59-all. It was all downhill from there as Cardinals avenged their 50-57 loss at the hands of the Phantoms last Jan. 21.

Paras scored 11 in the first half as the Phantoms transformed a 13-17 deficit into a 26-22 lead at the half. The Cardinals, however, regrouped in the third canto and regained the upper hand, 42-41, despite the Filipino sensation hitting 11 of the Phantoms' 15 points in that quarter. 

The son of former PBA Rookie-MVP and Hall of Famer Benjie Paras was coming off an 18-point game against California's second-ranked Bishop Montgomery in another sorry loss. 

The loss was LA Cathedral's third straight that dropped them to a 17-6 overall win-loss record. Paras and the Phantoms will try to arrest their slide when they collide with Serra High School Cavaliers on February 9. The Phantoms routed them, 82-63, at home last Jan. 23.  

Cantwell-Sacred Heart drew 27 points from Jacob Davison and 16 points and nine boards from Grigorije Rakocevic as the Cardinals improved to 15-10.