MANILA, Philippines – For Kobe Paras, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons must put their sorry loss to Far Eastern University (FEU) behind them, and shift their focus to their next assignment in the UAAP Season 82 men's basketball tournament.

The Fighting Maroons' comeback attempt against the Tamaraws fell short on Sunday, when they lost 82-79 in overtime after erasing a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Paras had 22 points on 9-of-24 shooting in the game, along with 9 rebounds and 6 steals. He scored the bucket that made it a one-possession game in the final minute of regulation, but the Maroons fell short in overtime as Ken Tuffin and Ino Comboy drained the big shots for FEU.

"It sucks to lose," Paras said after UP absorbed back-to-back defeats.

"For anyone out there, they know how it feels to lose. So, I just wanna do better and just put this behind and just prepare for the next game," he added.

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Paras credited the Tamaraws for their fine performance, noting that coach Olsen Racela "got his players ready." The Tams were in control most of the way, leading by as much as 19 points before they went cold in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter.

"They prepared really good. They put up a fight," Paras said of FEU.

UP, for its part, "just got to do better," the athletic swingman said. "There's a lot to learn."

Making Paras optimistic is the team's immediate response to the defeat, which dropped them to 5-3 in the tournament. According to Paras, the Fighting Maroons were in a positive mood, even with the result.

"I'm really happy na everyone's in a good state, so hopefully we may do better in the practice tomorrow and just focus talaga," he also said.

As for his own personal performance, Paras said he is far from satisfied.

"I just have to play better," said Paras, who is averaging 19 points and 6.17 rebounds per game for UP. "First round, I wasn't really doing that much on defense, but you know, I just gotta do better."

"I'm not content with where I'm at or where the team's at, so I just can't wait na we have a great game," he added.

UP will try to bounce back on Saturday, when they take on University of the East.

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