MANILA, Philippines–Ray Parks Jr., one of the top PBA rookies of 2019, has yet to decide with finality which team he is suiting up for in the upcoming season.
“[TNT and I] are still in negotiation,” Parks Jr., son of the late PBA great Bobby Ray, told the Inquirer in a text message Thursday.
In a separate interview, KaTropa mentor Bong Ravena said that the team management and the second overall pick of the 2018 Rookie Draft are indeed still trying to strike a new deal.
The 3-time local Most Valuable Player of Asean Basketball League was not present during KaTropa’s practice at Ateneo’s Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.
Ravena said TNT has given the 26-year-old cager time to thoroughly assess his predicament.
TNT, the flagship team of the MVP group, inherited Parks’ two-conference contract with Blackwater, partly in a bid to replicate its Commissioner’s Cup Finals run.
Parks was then coming off a stellar showing for the Elite, which he helped to a 7-4 elimination record and franchise-best No. 3 seed going into the playoffs.
For now, Parks, also a multi-time national team player, said he is channeling his focus onto himself.
“I’m getting in the best shape possible so that when the time comes, I’ll be ready,” he said.