Seeing growth of hoops in the region, Parks knows Gilas has to be ready

Ray Parks. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

If there’s someone in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games-bound Gilas Pilipinas squad who has seen how the field has improved over the past year, it’s Ray Parks.

The second-generation star spent the last season with Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League, where he faced off against the other nation’s best ballers en route to a 2017 ABL Local MVP award.

Parks knows that though the Philippines is still on a league of its own, other nations have slowly developed their own programs in hopes of catching up with the region’s gold standard.

“We just have to be ready for everybody because everybody got better, especially since coming from the ABL and seeing some of the other nation’s composition. I know for a fact that basketball here in the Southeast Asia really got better,” he said.

However, Parks, who is gunning for his third gold medal in the regional tilt, still maintains full confidence in the upcoming batch led by coach Chot Reyes.

“The Philippines is the top-tier right now for basketball in the SEA Games. I still believe in our team, in coach Chot and the system that we put together,” he said.

“It’s an honor and privilege again to be putting on a jersey again and representing the country. Throughout this time, with the crises going on in this country, it’s good to you know have Gilas back and have everybody united.”