Inspired Paredes plays best game yet a week before his wedding

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It must be the timing.

Turning 25 a day before, Papot Paredes had his best game in his professional career, churning out 13 points and six rebounds in GlobalPort’s 110-96 win over NLEX on Friday.

The former La Salle big man didn’t deny that he played inspired basketball at Mall of Asia Arena, but it wasn’t just because of his birthday.

“On Saturday, I’m getting married,” said Paredes, who is set to tie the knot with his fiancee Kiara on January 21.

There is a hitch, however, as the the wedding, which has been a year in the making, will coincide with the Batang Pier’s out-of-town game against San Miguel in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu.

Paredes is also expecting Franz Pumaren, who is one of the godfathers, and Gab Banal, who is a part of his entourage, to excuse themselves from the event. But he understands they can’t miss the game against the Beermen “because it’s an important one for us.”

With the top two spots still within reach for the Batang Pier at 5-3, the best wedding present for Paredes would be his team upsetting the Beermen on one of the most special days of his life.

“I hope they win. There’s a chance for us to get that top two and we want to be there to be easier for us. When you’re down, it’s going to be harder. We want to get that twice-to-beat advantage. We’re just doing what we have to do,” he said.

But don’t expect Paredes to be absent for long as he vowed to appear on the team’s first practice that Monday with honeymoon plans put on hold.

“The honeymoon can wait. She understands,” he said. “I’ll be back in our Monday. Then we’ll have our honeymoon after the conference.”