After captivating the world with his superb dunks, will Kobe Paras be present once the Manila Masters of the 2015 Fiba 3×3 World Tour kicks off?
SBP executive director Sonny Barrios hopes so.
“We’re trying if we could bring in Kobe Paras. He had lots of success in 3×3 and he has won the Slam Dunk Contests. We’re trying to see if we can bring him in,” he said.
Paras won the Fiba U-18 3×3 Slam Dunk Contest twice and Barrios is hopeful that the second-generation baller will find the time to strut his stuff in front of his countrymen.
However, prior commitments might hinder Paras’ appearance in the Manila Masters in August as he was invited to the Adidas training camp.
“The Fiba request is for us to include him, not just in the slam dunk, but even in the competitions. Truthfully, I was about to talk to coach Eric (Altamirano) if it’s possible that our second team will be Kobe and three other PBA players, only for me to find out that he might not be available,” said Barrios.
“I’m still going to talk to Benjie (Paras) and hopefully, convince Kobe to attend here rather.”
The SBP executive added that Paras’ entry would definitely be a big boost to the event, as it poses a tantalizing slam dunk duel between him and Lausanne Masters Dunk Contest winner Porter Mayberry, who stands at just 5-foot-4.
“The people want to see Kobe because all they are seeing are the videos in the internet. If he can come, (FIBA 3×3 event manager Ignacio) Soriano is thinking of seeding him in the Finals so they can hype the event of a possible duel between him and (Mayberry),” Barrios said. TVJ
