Kobe Paras posts 21 as Niigata deals second loss to Thirdy, San-en

In their first clash in two years, it was Kobe Paras and the Niigata Albirex BB who got the better of Thirdy Ravena’s San-en NeoPhoenix in a 77-64 win in the 2021-2022 Japan B. League on Saturday.

Niigata will now improve to 2-1  win-loss card while San-en slid to 1-2 to wrap up a thrilling match at the Hamamatsu Arena.

Paras was impressive from the get-go, notching 11 points in the first half to help Niigata build a 42-31 advantage at the break.

Ravena, already in his second tour of duty with San-en, came alive in the third after scoring six straight points to cut their deficit to three, 45-42, but Paras continued dropping his shots as Niigata kept the NeoPhoenix at bay.

In that frame, Paras converted six markers en route to Niigata’s 61-50 advantage at the end of the third.

Following Paras' lead, it was his teammate Rosco Allen who took over in the payoff period, detonating a personal 8-3 rampage to open the quarter, 68-53.

After Morihisa Yamauchi’s three-point play early in the fourth, San-en went scoreless for five minutes with Yusei Sugiura drilling a three-pointer at the 4:31 mark to stop the bleeding, 68-56.

Ravena returned to court with just about two minutes left in the game and quickly made a last-gasp transition basket, 75-64, but Niigata ran away with it with Paras sealing the win with a dunk, 77.

Paras finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists while Allen grabbed a team-high 23 markers, eight boards, and four dimes.

Ravena, meanwhile, finished with 16 points, two rebounds, two steals and four assists.

The match saw Ravena and Paras clash for the first time in their professional careers and also the first since 2019 in UAAP Season 82, where Ravena’s Ateneo Blue Eagles copped that year’s title.

Paras at the time was suiting up for University of the Philippines, whom he steered to a Final Four finish.

Ravena and Paras, known to be close friends on and off the court, will once again face each other on Sunday, October 10, at 1:05 p.m. (Manila time).

—JMB, GMA News