Kobe, Sedricks' teams advance to regional finals

MONROVIA, California – The high school edition of March Madness continued Friday night, and Cathedral High school has advanced to the regional finals after beating Alemany High School, 72-64.

UCLA-commit Kobe Paras overcame early foul trouble to finish with 17 points, including four three-pointers.

"We stayed focus and (I'm) just happy we got a win," said Paras. "I practiced, I just kept shooting and shooting until I got my rhythm back, and as you can see, I got it back."

With Paras in foul trouble, Washington State recruit Mila Acquaah led Cathedral's offense.

"It's definitely exciting, but I feel we're not done. We got a lot more to go. Winning the championship is our goal," he said.

Filipinos came out in full force to watch Paras in his most important high school game to date, including Disney and Broadway star Anna Maria Perez DeTagle.

Cathedral will play for the Division 3 regional title on Saturday in Ontario.

Meanwhile, Player of the Year candidate and Filipino-American Sedrick Barefield scorde 25 points for Centennial High School as they defeated Redondo Union High School, 85-64, to advance to the Division 1 regional championships, which will be held in Long Beach.

Winners of the regional final will advance to the state finals in Berkeley next week.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Paras overcomes bloody eye to lead Cathedral to victory

Kobe Paras sustained a bloody eye in the second quarter yet still put together a sensational game to lead the Cathedral High Phantoms to a hard-fought 84-72 win over the Gahr Gladiators in the CIF State Regional Playoffs in California.

Paras reportedly had a double-double, with Steve Angeles of ABS-CBN News North America tweeting that the former La Salle Greenhills standout tallied 27 points, at least 10 boards, and four assists.



Despite the injury to his eye, Paras still scored 15 points by halftime, helping Cathedral take a 45-39 lead.

But Gahr caught up in the third period, and trailed by just four, 59-63, entering the final frame. Gahr eventually took the lead in the fourth quarter, but the Phantoms were able to regain a 69-67 advantage with less than three minutes to go.

With around two minutes left in the game, Paras completed a crucial three-point play that gave them a five-point lead, and later hit the insurance free throws.

Cathedral moves on to face the Alemany Warriors for a place in the regional finals.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Paras, Barefield's teams eliminated in Open Division playoffs

MONROVIA/CORONA, California –Two Filipino hoop prodigies fell short in the second week of the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division tournament that features the state's top teams in one of the top high school tournaments.

UCLA-bound Kobe Paras and Cathedral High School lost for the third time this year to high school hoops powerhouse Bishop Montgomery.

Paras scored 14 points and showed his defensive skills to help keep the game close before Bishop Montgomery pulled away for a 59-47 victory and advance to the Last Eight.

"I'm just thankful that we can go up against teams as good as them," said Paras. "I just feel bad we can up short. We did our best, we practiced our all, but it went down to the smallest things, rebounds and the details."

Despite the loss, Paras met with dozens of Filipino fans after the game to celebrate a season's worth of improvement.

"I'm still new here. I'm just glad I got to go with the pace of the game. I just hope if we go up against greater teams, we can focus and do better," he said.

Across town in Corona, SMU-bound Fil-Am senior Sedrick Barefield and fourth-ranked Centennial High were upset by 12th-ranked Orange Lutheran, 78-73.

While both open divisions have ended for Paras and Barefield, they will now both regroup as they await for the seedings in another statewide high school playoff championship.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Paras, Cathedral HS win crucial game vs Redondo

Another Fil-Am shines in state playoffs

REDONDO BEACH, California -- It's the most exciting time of the year for high school basketball, the playoffs and in the first round of the open division that features the state’s top teams.

The Cathedral High School Phantoms came out victorious over Redondo Union high school.

“It's a playoff game. It's an important game so it's a real good feeling we won today so we just need to focus on our first game,” said Kobe Paras.

“I feel like we're doing good, playing together like a team. The chemistry is all built up. I believe were ready to push to get this win,” said , .

Paras was off to a slow start in a low scoring game.

In the second half as Redondo tried to make a late run, the son of PBA legend Benjie Paras scored 6 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 13 total points.

“I just played my best. Even though I wasn't in my healthiest condition because I'm still recovering from my sprained ankle and I sprained my finger as well but I'm just really proud of my teammates who stepped up as well,” said Paras.

With the victory, the 9th seeded Cathedral Phantoms will play against top seeded Bishop Montgomery whom they've lost a pair close matches this year.

Paras wasn't the only Fil-Am prodigy on the court Thursday night, Sedrick Barefield also opened his tournament with a big win.

In Corona, California SMU-bound Fil-Am point Barefiled scored 23 points as his 4th ranked Centennial beat Alemany 95- 69.

The second of playoffs will take place next week, the ultimate goal however is a trip to Sacramento for the State championship.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras impressive even in defeat

LOS ANGELES – It has been a rough week for the Cathedral High School Phantoms as they lost back-to-back games.

But despite the losses, Filipino basketball prodigy Kobe Paras has been impressive as the former La Salle Greenhills standout has gone on a scoring rampage in recent weeks.

Last Wednesday, he tallied 18 points against Bishop Montgomery, considered one of the top 25 high school teams in the country. Cathedral nearly pulled an upset before Bishop took a 76-69 win.

On Friday, Paras nearly doubled his previous output, scoring 35 points including six three-pointers in a 66-72 overtime loss to Cantwell Sacred Heart High School.

Paras played all 36 minutes of the game.

After producing a week's worth of highlights, the well-prepared Cantwell squad managed to keep the UCLA-bound Paras from dunking.

Despite the losses, there is another bright spot for the team as Paras' teammate and fellow international student, 6-foot-10 Lucas Seiwart, committed to Arizona State University.

The regular season wraps up this week before high school playoffs begin.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Kobe Paras scores 18 vs Bishop Montgomery

Check out Kobe Paras' performance against Bishop Montgomery last Wednesday.

Paras scored 18 points for LA Cathedral, but this wasn't enough to save the Phantoms from losing against the Knights, 69-76.

This was the second time they lost against Bishop Montgomery, which improved to 24-1.

LA Cathedral dropped to 17-5.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Kobe Paras scores 10 in win vs Vikings

Check out the highlights of Kobe Paras’ 10-point performance when the LA Cathedral Phantoms steamrolled past the St. Bernard Vikings, 74-42, on Wednesday.

The video posted on YouTube showed the Filipino hoops prodigy dishing out a two-handed slam and nailing a couple of loopers from beyond the arc.

His best highlight in the game was a quick spin move while he was eluding two defenders for a layup.

It was LA Cathedral’s fifth consecutive road win.

The Phantoms improved their record to 17-3 while handing the Vikings their 13th defeat in 23 games.

source:  www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras, Cathedral lose in home debut

LOS ANGELES – A rally came too little, too late for Kobe Paras and the Cathedral High School Phantoms as they dropped their first game of the season at home.

The Phantoms trailed by as much as 21 points to Bishop Montgomery High School, a Top 10 Southern California powerhouse.

The Phantoms mounted a late rally but could not pull it off, losing 76 to 80.

After a scoreless first half, Paras finished with nine points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the third quarter.

Meanwhile, three of Paras' teammates – including Fil-Am Jameel McGill – have been nominated to the McDonalds All-American Game that showcases the top high school seniors in the country.

Centennial High School's Fil-Am senior Sedrick Barefield, who will go to Southern Methodist University in Texas next year, was also nominated. -- Report from Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN News North America.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras, Cathedral High open year with win

LOS ANGELES – Basketball never stops in Los Angeles, especially for Kobe Paras and the Cathedral High School Phantoms.

In less than three weeks, the Phantoms have played 10 games, most of them on back-to-back nights.

After winning the San Fernando Valley Invitational, the team lost in the semi-finals of last week's Las Vegas Prep tournament.

They kicked off the New Year on Monday with the Huntington Park tournament, where they beat Millikan High School of Long Beach, 78-62.

Paras was off to a slow start in the first quarter offensively, missing several shots. But he showed off his skills on defense and ball handling.

Paras managed to score 10 points in the game, and completed a crowd-pleasing alley-oop dunk. Just like his other games, Filipino fans flocked to see the UCLA-bound teenager.

Though playing three tournaments in a row can be exhausting, the non-stop action also gives Paras plenty of experience, while his top-ranked teammates such as Brazilian Lucas Seiwart and Mila Accquah gain more chances to shine.

One of the most hotly anticipated games of the tournament will be on Wednesday when Cathedral plays against Maranatha, which boasts of one of the top high school players of the country in Tyler Dorsey.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kobe Paras dishes out big games in Las Vegas

MANILA, Philippines – Kobe Paras scored big for the LA Cathedral Phantoms in the semifinals of the 2014 Las Vegas Prep Championship.

Kobe, the son of PBA legend and now actor Benjie Paras, had 23 points and seven boards to go with his three blocks against Las Vegas Valley High.

His efforts, however, were not enough to save his team from a 68-80 loss to Valley High.

Kobe also scored 22 points during their 76-49 victory over Basic Las Vegas High School during their quarterfinal clash.

The Cathedral High School recently dominated the San Fernando Valley Invitational to win the title. Kobe won all-tournament honors together with Filipino-American Jameel McGee.

Accompanying Kobe in the tournaments was his brother Andre.

Kobe first gained fans' attention when he made a slam dunk past LeBron James during the NBA superstar's "Witness History" tour in Manila last year.

Paras also won a Slam Dunk contest in the FIBA 3x3 Under-18 tournament.

He later moved to Los Angeles to play for Cathedral High School, and has now committed to play collegiate basketball for UCLA.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com