Kobe Paras impresses in HS tournament in LA–report

THE PHILIPPINES’ Kobe Paras (center) is flanked on the podium by silver medalist Antonio Morales of Spain (right) and bronze medalist Demonte Flannigan of the US after winning the Fiba Under-18 slam dunk crown in Jakarta Sunday night. FIBA.COM file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Another Kobe is making heads turn in Los Angeles, and he’s from the Philippines.

Kobe Paras, the son of former PBA-rookie MVP Benjie who now plays for Cathedral High School, was impressive in a highschool tournament recently, according to a Los Angeles Times report posted on its website.

The 16-year-old Paras finished with 22 points, including three triples before in Cathedral’s 50-57 loss to Long Beach Poly in the DeMar Derozan tournament, it said.

According to the report by Eric Sondheimer, Paras even got the “Ko-Be, Ko-Be, Ko-be” chants from the fans which pumped him up more.

Paras, who was named after Lakers’ star Kobe Bryant, transferred from La Salle Greenhills to Cathedral, where he sat out the previous season.

“He’s OK,” said Cathedral coach William Middlebrooks of Paras. “He’s got to learn.”

Paras was part of the Philippine team that made waves in the 2013 Fiba 3×3 World Championships held in Jakarta, Indonesia.