After Rivero, La Salle player Paraiso also denies drug allegations

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

After Ricci Rivero broke his silence last week, another La Salle player took a stand against grave allegations thrown against him.

Seldom-used guard Brent Paraiso cleared the air on Monday and shared his side of the story after his name got dragged into controversy following his school-mandated indefinite leave of absence from the Green Archers.

READ: Ricci Rivero denies drug use, ‘lewd’ rumors

In a lengthy post on his social media account, the 20-year-old showed proof of his innocence as he attached a result of his drug test after talks of him using illegal substances surfaced.

Paraiso explained that on January 16 this year, he was asked by La Salle to submit a urine sample for the mandatory drug testing before being asked to once again submit another sample two days after.

Without any results coming out, he took initiative with an independent drug test “just so we have our own record if the need arises.”

“My Department of Health-accredited conducted drug test result dated January 22 says I am negative to all banned drugs. On January 24, my parents and I were called to a private meeting. We were informed that I tested positive for an illegal substance called methamphetamine (shabu) from the drug tests done on the 18th of January.”

Just to clear the space, I have my story to tell. 🙏🏻 Thank You and God Bless. pic.twitter.com/pP4CuQFhG6

— Brent Paraiso (@brentparaiso) March 12, 2018

“You can clearly see if someone is addicted to methamphetamine. I attend our rigorous trainings every day and never missed classes. I am out in public every single day where you can all see my physical features. Almost anyone can identify a drug user without any scientific tests — more so if we’re talking about an addiction to shabu.”

“From here alone, I don’t need to rebut further. There are more details to this story but I do not feel to expose the injustice I’ve received either. I simply want to clear my name and put all rumors to rest.”

Paraiso, together with brothers Ricci and Prince Rivero, took a leave of absence from the Green Archers last month stemming from a new school policy with regards to players entering sponsorship agreements with commercial entities.

Ricci Rivero had earlier came out last week to defend himself from “lewd” rumors of drug use and acceptance of money from gay benefactors.

The school has yet to issue a statement regarding this issue.

A third-string guard in last season’s rotation, Paraiso averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in less than nine minutes of action for La Salle this past UAAP Season 80.