MANILA – Another Filipino is headed to Japan’s B. League after forward Kobe Paras agreed to join the Niigata Albirex BB for its 2021-2022 season campaign that will begin next month.
The team announced Sunday morning that it acquired the former University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons forward via a special Asian quota.
“(Kobe) will be the team’s first registration in the special Asian quota,” Niigata Albirex wrote on its website. “By the conclusion of this contract, Kobe’s entry into Japan is not permitted.”
The 23-year-old Paras expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity given to him by the Niigata team management and head coach Fujitaka Hiraoka.
“I’m very excited. I can’t wait to meet my new teammates out there and hear the amazing fans cheer us on every game,” Paras told the Tiebreaker Times.
The former Gilas Pilipinas forward is no stranger to international competition, having played for Creighton University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 before returning to the Philippines to play for a year with the Fighting Maroons.
Paras averaged 16.14 points, 5.14 rebounds, 1.79 assists, 1.21 blocks, and 1.14 steals per game during his one-year stint with UP. Additionally, he appeared in two games for Gilas Pilipinas in the International Basketball Federation’s Asia Cup Qualifiers, averaging 3.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
The cager is the seventh Filipino to play in the B.League aside from former Fighting Maroons teammates Juan Gomez de Liano (Earthfriends Tokyo Z) and Javi Gomez de Liano (Ibaraki Robots). Also playing as special Asian quota in the league were Ilonggo brothers Thirdy Ravena (San-En NeoPhoenix) and Kiefer Ravena (Shiga Lakestars), Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (Nagoya Diamond Dolphins), and Kemark Carino (Aomori Wat’s).
Niigata Albirex BB, founded in 1954, is coming off a 16-38 campaign – ninth place in the East District – during the 2020-2021 Japan’s B. League season./PN
