Kobe Paras scores 17 in Phantoms’ lopsided win

MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras is proving that his lackluster season debut was just a fluke.

The 6-foot-7 Filipino shooting guard put up another solid effort for the second straight game as the LA Cathedral Phantoms routed Crescenta Valley, 70-42, Saturday (Sunday Manila time) at the Granada Hills High School gym in California to barge into the semifinals of the San Fernando Valley Invitational.

Paras shot 6-of-8 from the floor to finish with 17 points and added three rebounds and same number of steals and one shot block against only a single turnover.

It was a big follow-up to his 18-point effort against St. Genevieve where he shot 9-of-12 from the field last Saturday.

Paras only had four points on 2-of-9 shooting in his season debut against Simi Valley. But the 17-year-old son of former PBA Rookie-MVP Benjie Paras has since bounced back with two straight big games.

Through three games, Paras averaged 13 points, three rebounds and 1.7 steals.

Paras and the Phantoms will meet the Alemany Warriors in the semifinals on Tuesday.