Bobby Ray Parks leads Alab Pilipinas past Mono Vampire.
BANGKOK—For all his individual awards, Ray Parks is aware of the criticisms directed him. He hasn’t won enough titles with him as the cornerstone of the team. He gets overwhelmed by big moments.
Over the course of his second season in the Asean Basketball League, Parks is slowly but surely quashing those doubts.
Knocking down the biggest shots of the game in front of a hostile crowd, the reigning ABL local Most Valuable Player lifted San Miguel Alab Pilipinas to a stunning 99-93 victory over Mono Vampire that put the Filipino club on the brink of a championship celebration.
Alab rode Parks’ hot shooting in crunchtime as the former National U star shrugged off early foul trouble, nailing eight of his game-high 30 points inside the last three minutes to help the Filipinos survive another whirlwind finish for a 2-1 series lead.
Game 4 is set on Monday still at Stadium 29, where Alab will try to become the third Filipino club to claim the crown in the regional tournament, after the Philippine Patriots and the San Miguel Beermen.
“This is what we live for, championship games. I’m here (in the finals) and I’m just going to take this opportunity,” Parks said. “My teammates just trust me to make big shots.”
Parks hit back-to-back treys to quell the Thai club’s late-game surge, before knocking down a tough fadeaway over Mono’s Heritage import Paul Zamar with 1:15 seconds remaining for a 95-90 lead.
“I think he’s just continuing to grow as a player,” Alapag said, referring to Parks. “I was fortunate enough to spend time with Ray in the national team and I’ve just been really impressed with his growth. Tonight, without a doubt, that was just an MVP type of performance.”
“Every time momentum was going to us, we needed him (Parks) to miss shots,” said Mono coach Douglas Marty. “He didn’t.”
Living up their coach’s tag as a tough and resilient group, Alab bounced back in the series even after doubts that Justin Brownlee was going to be sidelined by a hamstring injury following cramps in the Game 2 loss.
Alapag said he was ready to sit out Brownlee, before the well-loved former Barangay Ginebra import told him that he was ready to go just 20 minutes before tipoff.
He ended up scoring 27 points, with 17 coming in the second half, where Alab finally found its groove. Brownlee sparked a 15-2 burst to end the third to put the Filipinos ahead to stay, 75-67.
Renaldo Balkman had 24 points, including 18 in the first half to help Alab stay within striking distance of Mono. But it was Alab’s sheer hard work and defensive stance that also gave them a lift as they outrebounded a Mono team boasting 7-foot-5 reinforcement Sam Deguara, 58-42.
“I’ve said a lot this season but I’m just really proud of these guys,” Alapag said.
“They’ve been a resilient group throughout and tonight was just another opportunity to show that. Justin wasn’t a 100 percent.”