Kobe Paras told by dad Benjie: Treat new NCAA team as family

MANILA, Philippines — Kobe Paras is taking a page off his dad’s playbook when he suits up for his new NCAA team.

Now under the wing of California State University, Northridge's Reggie Theus, the 19-year-old prospect said he will be remembering what his dad Benjie has always instilled to him.

“Just like what my dad says, ‘When you’re on your respective team, the coach is your dad and your teammates are your brothers. So just treat them with respect and be humble,’” Paras shared.  

“You know, I just live up to those words,” he continued during a gathering for the Philippine contingent that saw action in the recently-concluded William Jones Cup in Taiwan.

Theus, a two-time NBA all-Star and a legend out of the University Nevada, Las Vegas, said that the younger Paras has an impeccable talent ceiling. (LINK)

The mentor was then in town for NBA’s 3X festivities, which also featured Oklahoma City Thunder’s Steven Adams. 

“I think Kobe’s going to push us to the top,” the Matadors tactician added.

“I’m just happy that he got to experience and got to see what basketball is talaga in the Philippines,” the younger Paras noted. “t’s not an everyday thing that a college legend and an NBA legend gets to talk about me. I’m just happy that he’s my coach.”