MANILA, Philippines - Kobe Paras continued to impress and dazzle the Los Angeles high school fans, exploding for 30 points highlighted by a couple of rim-rattling slams to power the LA Cathedral to a 77-67 victory over Alemany in the semifinal round of the San Fernando Valley Invitational yesterday.
After the win, LA fans, half of which are Fil-Ams, chanted “M-V-P,” referring to Paras.
“I’m feeling more comfortable,” Paras, who has committed to play for UCLA, told Los Angeles Times. “The first game I did pretty bad. I just practiced a lot and listened to what coach wanted me to do.”
Cathedral, unbeaten in five outings, will face the unbeaten Chaminade (8-0) for the crown.
The 6-6 Paras, son of former PBA rookie MVP Benjie who spent his early high school years at La Salle-Greenhills before deciding to transfer to the US, unleashed 17 points on an impressive six-of-eight clip in a 70-42 rout of Crescenta Valley in the quarters.
Paras also dropped 18 points on a nine-of-12 shooting on St. Genevieve in another win.
But he started out slow and struggled for two-of-10 in his US high school debut versus Simi Valley before going on a roll, averaging 13 points, three rebounds and 1.7 steals.