Kobe Paras. FIBA.COM PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras continues to make a name for himself in the US basketball scene.
The 17-year-old Paras, son of Philippine Basketball Association’s only rookie-MVP Benjie, was named to the All-Tournament team in the San Fernando Valley Invitational Wednesday (Philippine time) following the Cathedral Phantoms’ championship run.
Cathedral stunned Chaminade, 65-63, on a last-second 3-pointer by Milan Acquaah. The 6-foot-6 junior Paras had 11 points in limited action due to foul trouble, according to LA Times’ Eric Sondheimer.
It was certainly not Paras’ best game of the tournament and it had quite an effect on his team with him riding the bench the Phantoms were outplayed.
According to Sondheimer, Paras picked up his third foul and had to sit on the bench with Cathedral leading by 16 points. And that’s when Chaminade went on a 29-7 run to take an eight-point lead with five minutes remaining. The UCLA-bound Paras went back in with four fouls and the Phantoms started their rally.
Paras’ best game yet came in the semifinals when he dropped 30 points in a 77-67 win over Alemany.