Player of the Week: Ray Parks taking Blackwater to new heights

Ray Parks. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Bobby Ray Parks Jr. made sure the rest of the league knew about his long-awaited arrival in the PBA.

Parks’ PBA career hit the ground running and he showed why he’s the second overall pick in the 2018 draft after leading Blackwater to a 3-0 start in the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.

The 26-year-old guard averaged 23.7 points. 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 steals in the Elite’s first three games to bag the first PBA Press Corps Player of the Week this conference.

Parks had 20 points and eight rebounds in his PBA debut in Blackwater’s 94-91 overtime win over Meralco last May 19 before following it up with a 28-point night in a 108-107 victory over Barangay Ginebra in OT.

The 6-foot-4 Parks proved he’s the real deal after putting up another 20-point outing with 23 points that went with five rebounds and five assists in a 118-110 win over Columbian.

It was a historic PBA start for Parks, who became the first rookie since Andy Seigle in 1997 to score at least 20 points in his first three games.

The streak of 20 points or more by Parks in his first three games made him the first rookie in 22 years to achieve the feat or since top pick Andy Seigle did it with Mobiline in 1997 as per PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.