PARAS AND CO. STAY ALIVE IN FIBA 3X3 WITH CLOSE WIN OVER HOSTS HUNGARY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 Jun 2015
Teenage sensation Kobe Paras played an excellent game to lead the Philippines in their second match in the FIBA Under 18 3x3 tournament and stayed alive in their bid for a quarter finals berth with a nail-biting 19-18 win over hosts Hungary.
The Filipino youngsters were tense and excited in their first game against Poland which they lost 13-15 after taking an early 4-1 lead but clawed back in the second game to set up a 5:00 p.m. showdown against Kazakhstan on Friday which will be 11:00 p.m. Manila Time.
Although he top-scored with 9 points in the first game Kobe Paras? Dad, Benjie Paras the only Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the Philippine Basketball Association in 1979, admitted that the youngsters led by his son took too many hurried outside shots but played so much better in the game against Hungary where Paras was outstanding.
Benjie said the win over Hungary would certainly boost their confidence for the game against Kazakhstan later on Friday.
The Under 18 team is bracketed in a formidable group that also includes Russia and Uruguay.
The 18 year old Paras who was joined by Ricci Rivero who added four points in the first game against the taller Polish squad, in a post-game tweet apologized to the fans after the loss and vowed to bounce back which he did against the favored hosts at the outdoor court in Debrecen.
Paras who will play for UCLA in the US NCAA next season said in his tweet ?This first game was my fault. Sorry to all the people who are supporting us. I made too many mistakes. We will definitely bounce back.?
The Philippine youngsters also include Michael Nieto and Richard Escoto and are ranked No. 17 in the tournament where the top two teams from the four brackets advance to the knockout quarter finals.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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