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BY RHODORA GARZON-CAMPILLAN
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Kobe Paras: The next big thing
KOBE Lorenzo Paras is one of the Gilas cadets we should look forward to in the field of basketball.
Kobe is the son of former Philippine Basketball Association MVP and Rookie of the Year awardee Benjie Paras and actress Jackie Foerster. At a very young age, he shows he has the potential in this sport. He brought home medals for the country in the following competitions: SEABA U16 Championship in Yogyakarta, FIBA 3×3 U18 World Championship specifically in the Slam Dunk category and FIBA Asia U18 3×3 Championship in Bangkok. He was likewise the youngest player to be part of the national team, Gilas Pilipinas.
Coach Chot Reyes, Gilas Pilipinas head coach, proudly said in an interview with Inquier.net that the young Paras is the future of the national team. He believes in Kobe’s capabilities because as a forward he can play both the inside and the outside.
Coach Reyes wants to expose Paras in elite basketball to further enhance his skills. Who knows in the next few years we will see him in the national team as one of its superstars.
In addition, Reyes said in his interview with ABS-CBN Sports that they are building a program and part of that is the youth. Kobe is viewed as the symbol of the youth brigade.
ABS-CBN Sports further disclosed that including Paras in the Jones Cup and Southeast Asia Games is a part of Reyes’ long-term program to develop the country’s assets and secure the country’s future in basketball.
During the Jones Cup in Taipei last month, the crowd kept on chanting his name. They were too excited to see Kobe perform basketball on the court. However, coach Chot Reyes said he does not want to put undue pressure on Kobe. He is appreciative of the support Filipino fans give to Gilas Pilipinas but he is appealing to the fans to give Kobe time.
The young gunner played a few games in the Jones Cup and was only given a few minutes on the floor. Even if he was not seen in action for a long period, he was the loudest cheerleader on the bench. He knows for a fact that he is the youngest in the team and he needs to show hard work first before he is given the time to shine.
I like the attitude of the teenager when he said he is just happy to be part of the team and being coached by pros. He considered his Jones Cup experience as a great learning experience and a blessing.
I watched him play in the FIBA 3×3 in Nantes, France over Youtube together with UAAP MVP’s Keifer Ravena and Jeron Teng and PBA player JR Quiñahan. He displayed athleticism and prowess when Team Philippines played against Romania. Kobe demonstrated flawless movements on the way to the basket.
I told myself this kid is something. At 19, he is confident to face older players and is not afraid to drive into the basket or try three-point shots. Team Philippines won against Romania with Kobe leading the team to victory
Surely, Kobe has a long way to go. He has more years to train and improve his craft. I salute Coach Reyes for having foresight – coming up with a program to scout and develop future basketball players who will represent the country in different competitions abroad.
I hope Kobe may be able to inspire young basketball players to improve their skills further. If they are given the chance to shine, they must give their best shot, play like there is no tomorrow, and fight until the very end.
May young players follow Kobe’s humility and gratefulness. He knows he is a good player but there is still a part of him that thirsts for new ideas. In short, he is willing to learn. He does not rush to be the center of the attention; he waits for his time and remains grateful to all the opportunities given to him.
I will not be surprised if one day Kobe Paras will be Philippine basketball’s next big thing!/PN
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