Passing the torch: Bobby Ray Parks - one name, two dominant players

Father and son comparisons never go away, especially in the realm of Philippine basketball, where “the chip off the old block” idiom stands the test of time. The torch is lighted and passed from one generation to the next. As one legacy comes to a close, another is waiting to be written. Part three of a three-part feature turns the spotlight on Bobby Ray Parks and his son, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. Bobby Ray Parks has become such a household name in Philippine hoops that not one, but two great players were christened similarly. The father has annexed the summit of the game among his PBA peers, reaching one statistical milestone after another and racking up awards and championships left and right. The son meanwhile, is inducing bouts of déjà vu, taking the UAAP by storm and making heads turn as he soars to the basket with his immense athleticism and flair. The second coming is set in place. Turbo-charged and zooming Bobby Ray Parks, Sr. is heralded as one of the greatest imports to conquer Philippine shores. Coming off a two-year stint in France, he started out his PBA career with the San Miguel Beermen in 1987, winning a championship on his first go against Hills Bros. Coffee. However, it was with Formula Shell where he forged his legacy, playing in the Helix colors from 1988 until 2000. Parks scored at a devastating clip that rivaled the prolific Tony Harris. While Harris once tore the rims to a tune of 105 points in a single game, Parks also piled on the points, posting averages of 52.6 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists over 23 games in 1989, including a 72-point explosion against the Beermen, his former team, in a 140-136 loss on March 5. To further stamp Parks’ class, he averaged more than 40 points per game in each of his first five seasons in the PBA. Despite his lanky, long-limbed frame, Parks was never pushed around and positioned himself well under the basket. Like his contemporary imports, Norman Black and Sean Chambers, Parks was also a beast on boards and did not let opponents out-hustle him inside. He was a sure double-digit rebounder and a catalyst of fast breaks thanks to his outlet passes. Despite being a seven-time Best Import Awardee, Parks would rather be remembered for being a part of a Shell franchise that made numerous Finals appearances, including three championships during the 1990 First Conference, the 1992 First Conference, and the 1998 Governors Cup. He was the centerpiece of a successful core that included Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, Victor Pablo, and Jolly Escobar. The number 22 will always be associated with the hard-worker who endeared himself to Shell supporters. He also caught more opportunities to be recognized by the Philippine masses with a couple of movie appearances, most notably ‘Wooly Bully 2: Ang Classmate Kong Alien,’ a comedy released in 1990 under the direction of Ben Feleo. Parks was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2009, the second American to receive the honor after Black. In 2010, Parks joined his son in National University as the team’s consultant, while his son served a one-year residency. He continues to be active in the basketball scene, coaching the San Miguel Beermen in the ASEAN Basketball League since the 2011-12 campaign. And though he has fought numerous wars on the court through the years, Parks’ greatest struggle was against laryngeal cancer, which he eventually conquered through treatment. Yellow Jacket to Bulldog Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. is touted as the second coming of his father, more than just because he is his namesake. Born to Parks, Sr. and Filipina Marifer Celine Barbosa in 1993, the Fil-Am had big dreams for himself, and it started along the streets of Parañaque where he played pick-up games. After living in the Philippines for his first 13 years, he moved to the United States and immediately made an impact there, leading St. George’s Independent School to a Finals appearance. The year after that, he saw action for Melrose High School alongside Tennessee top recruit Adonis Thomas. It was there that he led that team to an AAA State Championship in 2010, attracting the attention of NCAA recruiters. Tipping the cap to his father, he also wore number 22 for both teams. Parks received a scholarship offer from Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, a US NCAA Division I school, causing a stir in the local hoops scene. But father and son decided it was best to come back home and suit up for the National University Bulldogs, spurning the Georgia Tech offer. Georgia Tech could not contact the Parks family and that left a bad taste in the mouth of Yellow Jackets head coach Brian Gregory, who had expected that Parks would suit up for them. The controversial disappearance led to much speculation, amidst the 117th ranking Parks received from Rivals.com among all incoming freshman prospects. According to the elder Parks, the plan is for his son to play the first two years with the Bulldogs and then reconsider available options. For now, Parks is targeting to end the 56-year title drought plaguing the Bulldogs. When business mogul Henry Sy purchased a 60% stake of National University in 2008, expectations were raised, primarily in the basketball program. Acquiring Parks was not the end-all goal for the Bulldogs, but it was a step towards shedding the whipping boy label of the UAAP. The younger Parks made a lasting first impression. His versatility and potential was maximized as the team’s first option on offense, storming through his rookie season with averages of 20 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He took home the Most Valuable Player Award for Season 74 (he was ineligible for Rookie of the Year honors due to residency reasons), the first player from National University to do so and the first one to win the award despite a team’s failure to reach the Final Four. Even with a steady hand under Head Coach Eric Altamirano, a commanding slotman in Emmanuel Mbe and the do-it-all rookie in Parks, National Unversity still has a long way to go after finishing 6-8 last season. As of press time, the Bulldogs are at 6-5 with the second round of UAAP season 75 winding down. As it stands, they must beat the De La Salle University Green Archers on Sunday, to maximize their chances of making it into the Final Four. If they are not careful, Parks and his Bulldogs could find themselves on the outside looking in once more. Across the Pacific Ocean A common link the father and son shares is the insatiable desire to play in the NBA, where the sport is played at the highest level of competition. Parks graduated from the Memphis State program, a campus of esteemed basketball pedigree, with alumni like Anfernee Hardaway, Derrick Rose, and Tyreke Evans. The father already had a foot in the door, when the Atlanta Hawks selected him with the 58th overall pick in the 1984 Draft. Parks was raring to make a name for himself, but was cut right before the regular season started. A couple of tryouts with the Los Angeles Clippers went for naught, and thus his exodus from the United States began. For the younger Parks, the chance to play internationally is optimistic. Currently listed at 6’4” and 195 pounds, the son is an inch shorter and less hefty than his father. However, despite the similarities in their height, Parks resembles a shooting guard’s game, whereas his father was a prototypical power forward. The disparity of playing a 2 as compared to a 4 may have great repercussions on an international scale. It means Parks’s versatility gives him a legitimate chance of thriving outside the Philippines. After all, Georgia Tech was keen enough to have sought out his talent. Scouts have pointed out that the younger Parks’ range goes all the way out to 24 feet, a promising sign for the lefty. While the father also took some triples in his heyday, it was clear that he relied on an inside game. Parks will need to improve on getting his teammates more involved throughout the game. Time and again he goes into hero mode in an attempt to bail out his teammates, eventually leaving them ice cold and unable to convert open shots late in the game once the stakes are high. Remember, his height may force to him play point guard more frequently if he wants to play on bigger stages, and adjusting his game early on will allow him to become someone who deserves a call-up in the NBA, his lifelong dream. For now however, a UAAP title is the immediate goal. - AMD, GMA News