I am privileged to be part of the UP Fighting Maroons even if I failed in the States.

After nearly snapping a 33-year title drought last year, hopes are high on University of the Philippines (UP) to emerge victorious in Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

And that hope was further fanned when Kobe Paras stepped on campus.

UP loyalists have all the reasons to believe.

The good-looking, power-slamming Paras is the son of a campus legend — Benjie Paras — who steered the Fighting Maroons to their only UAAP title in 1986.

Benjie went on to have a stellar career in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), winning the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in 1989 before emerging as the most outstanding player anew 10 years later just when Filipino-American stars were starting to enter the league.

That’s why everybody in Diliman is revering the younger Paras the same way they paid tribute to the Oblation.

For them, if the father led them to the title, the son can definitely do it — 33 years later.

But Paras is simply brushing off these expectations.

“Pressure is something that’s on the person outside begging for money. It’s on the person who has a 9 to 5 job, on the guard deployed in this building, on the people who don’t have much,” said the 22-year-old forward, speaking like a full-grown adult.

“I am privileged to be playing. I am privileged to have a third chance in life. I am privileged to be part of the UP Fighting Maroons even if I failed in the States.”

He said he has so much to be thankful for.

And playing for UP — the school his father led to its last UAAP title — is on top of those.

Playing for the Fighting Maroons wasn’t Paras’ original plan.

In fact, after campaigning for La Salle Greenhills in the juniors division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, he took a one-way flight to the United States to chase his dream of becoming an National Basketball Association (NBA) player.

He found himself at the Cathedral High School in Los Angeles before moving to Middlebrooks Academy, where he gained the attention of University of California Los Angeles.

With the Bruins parading a powerhouse roster that featured future NBA player Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans, Paras was buried on the bench while struggling inside the classroom.

He moved to Creighton University, a Catholic school in Nebraska that produced NBA talents like Doug McDermott and Kyle Korver.

Again, he failed to land a starting role.

KOBE Paras is playing well to repay the trust given by the UP Fighting Maroons. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

His last attempt to trek the road to the major league was through Cal State Northridge, where he struggled as well, leading to his decision of packing his bags back to Manila.

“I am very privileged that even if this is my Plan B, UP still gave me a chance,” Paras said.

“For the past three years, I have proven nothing and I have done nothing. I’ve been on the bench so I know how it feels. So I am just making the most out of my life and staying positive and happy.”

He said he’s living his life to the fullest and treating each game as if it is his last.

“I just love living my life day by day,” he said.

“And in terms of basketball, I always think that every game is my last game, my last opportunity to prove my worth.”

Paras is arguably the jewel on UP’s crown.

In his nine games with the Fighting Maroons, he posted 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists to provide a major help to the mainstays like Ricci Rivero, Bright Akhuetie, Juan Gomez de Liaño and skipper Jun Manzo.

With such glowing numbers, it’s no surprise that talks about dethroning powerhouse — and unbeaten — Ateneo de Manila University crosses the minds of UP fans.

But Paras isn’t letting this to get into his head.

“Any one who understands basketball knows what a good game is,” he said, adding that his numbers is not as overwhelming as he wants it to be.

“I don’t want to focus on my good game. I want to focus on my bad game and further improve. When I say ‘bad game,’ it’s not just about points. It’s also about defense and attitude inside the court.”

‘The past games I felt that I am doing bad, but this is when you learn. You learn when you accept that you’re not doing well. And I am accepting the fact that I am not doing well. So, I just have to get better and just focus on the next games.”

Paras said the road to the title isn’t easy.

But he’s taking it patiently — one dunk at a time.