Rising star Kobe Paras has announced that he will be joining the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroon.
The son of UP’s legendary basketball product Benjie Paras sets his sights on a stint with the state university after a fledgling collegiate career in the United States that was cut short.
Turning Maroon
Paras and various UP social media accounts made the announcement on Wednesday morning.
BREAKING: Kobe Paras joins UP ❤️? The Paras legacy lives on. #UPFight #nowheretogobutUP pic.twitter.com/zGPabdwAW7
— UP Fighting Maroons (@upmbt) July 11, 2018
Paras in initial statements after the announcement spoke about wanting to help improve the state university’s basketball program.
The 21-year-old guard is the son of PBA legend Benjie Paras, a two-time Most Valuable Player who also holds the record for being the first player to win the MVP plum in his rookie year, with ex-wife Jackie Foster.
moves had to be made
— Kobe Lorenzo Forster Paras (@_kokoparas) July 11, 2018
Paras starred for Cathedral High School in Los Angeles and committed to the University of California Bruins in the US NCAA—the same Division I program that produced the likes of Kareem Abdul Jabar, Bill Walton, Reggie Miller, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love to name a few.
Following his graduation, Paras however was unable to meet the academic requirements set by UCLA and instead enrolled in Creighton University. He was expected to transfer to Cal State Northridge but changed plans.
He has also been called on to suit up for the Gilas Pilipinas program. Paras was part of the Philippines’ delegation FIBA 3×3 World Cup in 2017.
Basketball analysts are excited for what could be the most star-studded roster the once-struggling UP basketball program has ever put together.
Kobe Paras will team up with Paul Desiderio, Juan GDL, Javi GDL, Jun Manzo, Will Gozum, and Bright Akhuetie for #UAAPSeason81. Now that’s, bar none, the best lineup, on paper of course, UP has ever had.
— Normie Riego (@riegogogo) July 11, 2018
UP Fighting Maroons starting lineup for 2019
Juan Gomez De Liaño
Ricci Rivero
Javi Gomez De Liaño
Kobe Paras
Bright Akhuetie— Mico Halili (@micohalili) July 11, 2018
Among UP’s recent blue-chip acquisitions are NCAA Season 93 Juniors MVP Will Gozum, UAAP Season 80 Mythical Five member Ricci Rivero, a transferee from De La Salle University and Nigerian powerhouse Bright Akhuetie, who transferred last year from the University of Perpetual Health of the local NCAA.
The transferees after serving their one-year residency will be joining a lineup that presently consists of young talent such as UAAP Season 80 Rookie of the Year Juan Gomez de Liano, his older brother Javi, guard Jun Manzo and former Mythical Five awardee Paul Desiderio.
The Fighting Maroons have not won basketball gold since 1986, when the older Paras along with future legends Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano led the Maroons to title.
