ALTHOUGH Niigata Albirex BB lost the time out against San-En, prized Albirex forward Kobe Paras still relished the chance to play against his best friend, Thirdy Ravena, of the NeoPhoenix in the Japan B. League.
“I’m very happy to play against my best friend Thirdy and I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity,” Paras said. “We will watch the video on the games and make the necessary adjustments.”
The 6-foot-6 Paras admitted he was not able to follow his squad’s game plan and forced his shots against a San-En side that scored an 85-82 victory last Sunday.
“My teammates did a great job today,” Paras said. “But personally, I was not able to follow the team’s plan and looked for my shot.”
Paras was held to 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists after scoring 21 points in Niigata’s 77-64 win over NeoPhoenix last Saturday.
He shot 4-of-13 from the field, 0-of-4 from beyond the arc, and had four turnovers.
Despite the loss, Albirex coach Fujitaka Hiraoka lauded his charges’ grit.
“The players fought for 40 minutes. I think that our turnovers and defensive lapses during the crucial parts of the game took their toll on us,” Hiraoka said. “I am still proud of our players who did not give up in the end.”
Niigata squares off with winless Levanga Hokkaido at the Hokkai Kitayell Prefectural Sports Center next weekend.
