Kobe Paras leaves UP to train in the United States
Amid the uncertainty of the situation in the Philippines, Kobe Paras has decided to leave the University of the Philippines and take his talents to the United States.
In a statement, UP Men’s Basketball Team (UP MBT) coach Bo Perasol said he has discussed at length Kobe’s decision and he was supportive of it.
Perasol said Kobe was committed to still play for the UP MBT, but the uncertainty over whether there will be another season this year weighed over the 23-year-old 6-foot-6 forward.
“It is in this backdrop that we agreed that he has to pursue his other opportunities,” said Perasol in a media statement.
Perasol said that Kobe “is too talented to be kept waiting for things to come.”
“Our program was blessed to have been a part of his journey,” said Perasol. “It’s not every season that one gets to convince a talent like Kobe to be part of a growing program like the UP MBT. He took a chance on us and played his heart out. It’s for our new players to begin stepping up where he has left off.”
Kobe will now be suiting up under the East West Private (EWP) program in Ohio.
Kobe, son of Philippine Basketball Association legend Benjie, grew up in the United States before he returned to the Philippines in 2018.
In his sole season with UP MBT during the 2019-20 Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, he averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Kobe also helped steer the UP MBT to a finals appearance that year.
In an instagram post, EWP welcomed Kobe with a photo bearing the caption, “Let tomorrow be your second chance to prove that you are better than today and yesterday. Welcome to the family Kobe!”