Parks, Van Opstal out of SEAG quint

BOBBY Ray Parks Jr., the two-time UAAP MVP, will miss the country’s defense of the men’s basketball title in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore next month because of a left shoulder injury.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios has informed Philippine chief of mission Julian Camacho that San Beda point guard Baser Amer will replace Parks, who has been missing the practices of the national five lately.

There are reports, however, that the son of the late Bobby Parks, the many-time PBA Best Import, has opted to give his NBA dream another chance and would leave for the United States this week in preparation for the NBA Summer League in July.

Also replaced from the 12-man roster was La Salle stalwart Arnold Van Opstal, who strained his right Achilles tendon.

Incoming La Salle sophomore Prince Rivero will take the slot of the 6-foot-8 inside operator.

Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena, NCAA MVP Earl Scottie Thompson of Perpetual Help, Far Eastern’s Mark Belo and Kevin Ferrer of University of Santo Tomas will headline the team along with naturalized center Marcus Douthit.

Other players tapped by American head coach Tab Baldwin are power forward Troy Rosario and slasher Glenn Khobuntin of National U, La Salle’s Almond Vosotros and Norberto Torres and Arellano’s Jiovani Jalalon.

The Nationals recently won the Southeast Asian Basketball Association tournament in Singapore, which served as a qualifier for the Fiba Asia Championship in September in China where the champion earns the lone Asian spot to the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.

The men’s team will shoot for a 17th basketball title in the 11-nation Games. The Nationals have won the event since 1977, except for the 1989 edition in Kuala Lumpur.