Ray Parks holds up his Alab Pilipinas jersey. Photo from Alab Pilipinas Instagram
Representing the country has always been the top priority for Bobby Ray Parks, even if it means putting his NBA dream on hold.
Parks is set to join Alab Pilipinas in the Asean Basketball League and the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player is wxcited to take on this new endeavor.
“The NBA dream is still alive, but right now, it’s in the backburner because my priority is Alab and representing my country,” he said. “It’s a huge deal for me. I’m definitely proud to be Filipino and I’m thankful for the support. This is home for me.”
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He lasted played for the Philippines when he suited up for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2016 Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament back in July.
Parks savors the chance to represent the Philippines anew after his short stint with the Westchester Knicks in the NBA D-League.
“Me, just being able to be a factor in the team, it feels good to show what I can do because I really worked hard in the past year and a half,” he said.
Parks also believes that this ABL stint will show how much he has grown as a player ever since his days with National University in the UAAP.
“What happened in Fiba, what happened in the past D-League, it didn’t do any of my hardwork any justice. That’s the way I feel about it. So me, being able to play in the ABL and my teammates trusting me, it allows me to show what I’ve been working on, to show that I’ve improved, to show that I’m a totally different player,” he said.
And Parks only has one goal in mind in this partnership in Alab: to win the ABL title.
“I’m just trying to win back the championship,” he said. “People appreciate the hardwork you put it just by winning games. If the MVP comes, that will be great, but at the end of the day, it’s about the wins.”