Kobe Paras is FIBA 3×3 U-18 worlds slam dunk king

MANILA, Philippines — Promising PH youth player Kobe Paras reigned supreme in the FIBA 3×3 U-18 World Championships dunk contest after delivering one highlight slam after another, besting USA’s Demonte Flannigan and Spain’s Antonio Morales in the finals at the Merdeka Square on Sunday, September 29.

The high-flying La Salle Greenhills star scored a perfect 30 points on his first 3 dunks in the championship round before wounding up with a total of 117 points to beat the Spanish and American challengers.

From his very first dunk, Paras already set the tone for a colorful night after bringing a motorcycle to the hardcourt. To make the slam more special, his teammate, UAAP Juniors MVP Thirdy Ravena, sat on the bike before Paras went baseline for a thunderous finish.

Paras’ second dunk was even more spectacular, jumping off two players — Ravena and a cager from Spain — and finishing with a one-handed tomahawk.

Paras amassed 30 points each on both dunks.

Demonte Flannigan failed to convert on his between-the-legs slam which left Paras and Morales in the one-on-one finale.

Morales, however, ran out of creative tricks even as Paras continued to soar in the finals with an off-the-glass windmill to take home the slam dunk title with a score of 57 to Morales’ 51.

Paras was already a crowd favorite yesterday when he attempted a “tribute to Lebron James” dunk in the qualification stage. He earned a perfect 30 after an off-the-glass alley-oop to himself which he finished with a reverse jam to top 14 other participants.

It was a sweet gold for the Philippines, who were booted out earlier in the tournament after a 3-4 card in Pool B didn’t allow them to make the Last 16.

Paras also made headlines in July this year, when he dunked on NBA superstar LeBron James during the 4-time MVP’s visit for Nike.  Watch this video by YouTube user Herculean Breed.

– Rappler.com