Fresh off his maiden campaign in the PBA D-League with the AMA Online Education Titans, 21-year-old Andre Paras joined Gilas Pilipinas’ Tuesday night practice as a warm body to the team as the Nationals embark for two separate tournaments this August.
Before Raymond Almazan and Matthew Wright arrived at around 8:30 in the evening, the 6-foot-4 forward was able to test his skill against the FIBA Asia Cup-bound team as he defended the likes of Christian Standhardinger and Carl Cruz.
“It’s okay, I had fun,” said the actor/basketball player after the practice. “There are some thing to learn from and at the same time, it’s really overwhelming because I get to be around with the PBA players I look up to.
What the eldest of the Paras siblings looks to improve on is his three-point shooting, something he looks to integrate to his arsenal during the latter stages of the Foundation Cup.
“I have seen an improvement in the way I played in high school and college,” said the second generation cager. “But I’ve seen these guys. They’re taller than me and nakakatira sila sa labas.
“Players my size are pretty much guards na, hindi na sila [defined] as bigs.”
But besides improving, he also wants to strengthen his relationship with young brother Kobe, who is set to join Gilas during the SEA Games.
“Being with Kobe, that’s what is important for me,” he said.
“As of now, I just want to join Kobe and support him.”
Kobe, who is two years younger than Andre, is simply happy to be able to train with his brother once again.
“It feels great. Ever since we were kids, he was always the first one to fall in love with basketball,” said the younger Paras, who last played with his brother at La Salle Greenhills.
“Him being here right now, it feels great. It’s not every day I get to practice with him.”
And with some of the Gilas players playing for their mother teams on Wednesday and Friday, Kobe knows that his brother will be actively participating in the drills to help Gilas out in his own way.
