Kobe Paras-less Phantoms rebound, beat Knights

MANILA, Philippines – No Kobe Paras, no problem for the LA Cathedral Phantoms.

The Phantoms bounced back from two consecutive losses sans Paras with a 79-69 road win against Price High School Knights on Sunday (Monday Manila time) in the MLK Showcase.

Paras sat out with an ankle injury sustained in a tough loss against Bishop Montgomery two days ago but Milan Acquaah and Leandro Amador stepped up in his absence to carry the Phantoms to their 13th win in 16 games.

The cat-quick Acquaah delivered monster numbers of 31 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and five steals while Amador, who was nominated to the McDonalds All Star game, also filled the stats sheet with 24 points, 11 boards, three assists, two steals and two shot blocks.

The Phantoms rode on a big second quarter to overhaul a five-point deficit in the opening quarter. They were never seriously threatened after erecting a 16-point lead at the end of the third quarter, 65-49.

Paras is listed day-to-day after sustaining the injury. He scored nine points, all in the second half, in a four-point loss at the hands of California's fourth-ranked Bishop Montgomery where they came close to complete a stunning comeback from 21 points down.

The 17-year-old son of former PBA Rookie-MVP Benjie Paras is a game-time decision when the Phantoms play Long Beach Poly High School on Tuesday (Wednesday Manila time).