Benjie Paras to UCLA-bound son Kobe: ‘The world is yours’

Naveen Ganglani

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Benjie Paras to UCLA-bound son Kobe: ‘The world is yours’
Proud father Benjie Paras is happy with his son's decision to join UCLA, says he sent Kobe to America 'to begin his transformation into manhood'

MANILA, Philippines – After receiving offers from different US NCAA Division I schools over the past few weeks, 6-foot-6 Filipino cager Kobe Paras has made a decision: he will become a UCLA Bruin.

Just two days after it was reported that UCLA head coach Steve Alford offered a basketball scholarship to the former La Salle Greenhills athlete, Kobe relayed the news through his Twitter account on Saturday, October 11, that he will play for the Bruins once he graduates from Cathedral High School in Los Angeles, California.


The Los Angeles Times says that in a press release by Cathedral High School, Kobe’s father, two-time PBA MVP Benjie Paras, told his son during a phone conversation that the world is his.

“Kobe, the world is yours and now it’s time for you to decide which path you want to take,” said the older Paras, who played from 1989-2003 in the PBA and holds the distinction of being the player in league history to bag both the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season (1989).

“I sent Kobe to America to begin his transformation into manhood, while continuing his LaSallian development and education,” Benjie said.

“Each time I speak with him, I am convinced I made the right decision and investment.”

Kobe is joining a UCLA squad that has a rich history of producing players that went on to have successful careers in the NBA, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gail Goodrich, Reggie Miller, Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes, Kevin Love, and Russell Westbrook, to name a few.

(WATCH: Kobe Paras puts on dunking exhibition)

A total of 83 players in NBA history hailed from UCLA, which owns the NCAA record for most national championships at 11.

The Bruins finished their most prior NCAA campaign with a 28-19 record, winning the Pac-12 Conference and making it to the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA tournament before falling to University of Florida. 

Paras, 17, is currently in his junior season in Cathedral and is expected to keep competing for the Philippine’s Under-18 national basketball team in future international competitions.

– Rappler.com


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