He’s overcome a great deal of challenges left and right.
While he has temporarily stepped away from basketball, Kobe Paras reached a new milestone after being on the cover of MEGA Man Magazine’s July edition.
The magazine puts the spotlight on the baller who seems eager to turn a new chapter in his life, as he is “courageously taking a step back from the life he’s known since he was a kid and is finally living life in his own terms.”
The son of PBA legend Benjie has grown a lot since getting the attention of everyone when he made LA-based Cathedral High School Phantoms’ lineup in 2013.
In an excerpt from the said magazine’s cover story, the 25-year-old Paras shared the ups and downs of playing overseas.
Growing up with Paras as your last name and a celebrity mother in Jackie Foster, Kobe is used to having prying eyes on him everyday.
But the advantage of being miles away from home was that those were minimal.
“I mean, it’s toxic there, as well. But here, whatever move you make—it doesn’t matter if it’s small moves or big moves—you’re gonna be judged and you’re gonna be looked at. People are always going to be talking about the decisions you make and the stuff you do,” he told MEGA.
He went back to the Philippines to continue his collegiate play with the UP Fighting Maroons. But it wasn’t all bed of roses as well.
So before going pro, he decided to finally call his mother.
“I felt so lost that I dropped out of college. I didn’t tell my dad. I didn’t tell anyone. I felt so depressed and for some reason, I just wanted the love of my mom. I just wanted to talk to my mom,” recalled Paras, who had not seen or talked to his mom for a decade until then.
“I got her number from her friend, and I called her right away.”
It appeared all he needed was a dose of mother’s love.
“She couldn’t believe it was me. It felt good, it felt like it was a long overdue thing to reunite. That was the biggest decision I’ve made in my life. When I reached out to her and forgave her, my life got significantly better,” said the 6-foot-6 cager who used to play for Altiri Chiba in the Japan B.League.
“It used to be all dark clouds, and I kept waiting for rain. There were days when I’d just cry. When I reunited with my mom, it was all sunshine, all happy. I felt at peace. Now, we’re very close.”
Fans are raring to see Paras hop back on the court again. After mutually parting ways with Altiri, it remains to be seen where the athletic wingman will take his talents.
Wherever it might be, he can count on his fellow countrymen to support—and sometimes, criticize—him.
(GM)