Photo from the Texas Legends’ Twitter Account
It’s a known fact that Filipinos have this amazing love for the game of basketball.
Reaching the NBA is the pinnacle of any Filipino basketball player’s achievement and one man has made it a personal goal to realize that dream.
Since he concluded his college career here, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., hasn’t stopped chasing his dream of playing in the NBA—but not only for himself, but for the basketball-crazed country as well.
“Dream ko na makapasok sa NBA pero ang dream na ito hindi lang para sa akin, pero para sa buong bayan,” Parks, who recently played in the NBA Developmental League with the Texas Legends, said Wednesday after Gilas practice.
Parks averaged 4.6 points and 1.9 rebounds per game for Texas while playing an average of 13.3 minutes in 32 games.
Texas finished the season with a 23-27 record.
A stint in the NBA D-League will not ensure an NBA roster spot but, with a chance to prove himself in the Gilas Pilipinas roster, Parks hopes he can finally achieve something no Philippine-born player has done.
“Maraming talented players dito, kagaya ng nasa pool ng national team, talented sila, may chances sila,” said Parks.
Raymond Townsend was the first player with Filipino blood to have played in the NBA when he debuted in 1978 and played for the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers.
He, however, was born in the States and lived in San Jose, California while Parks had his first breath in the Philippines and grew up in Metro Manila.
Parks said if ever he becomes part of an NBA team it would be the start for Filipinos in the NBA.
“Gusto kong buksan ang eyes ng NBA dito sa Pilipinas.”