PBA to name best import award in honor of late Bobby Parks Sr.

Bobby Parks Sr.

MANILA, Philippines—There were no second thoughts on naming the best import award to the late legendary import Bobby Parks Sr., who passed away on Saturday.

A day after his death, the PBA  has decided to honor and pay tribute to the seven-time best import starting this 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“I cannot think of a better import and human being after which to name the best import award, both to honor Bobby’s immense contribution to PBA as well as to serve as a shining example and inspiration to all imports who play in our shores,” said PBA Commissioner Chito Salud in a statement on Sunday.

Parks, who succumbed to complications stemming from laryngeal cancer, spent the bulk of his illustrious career in the league with the now defunct Shell for 12 seasons.

He nabbed the best import citation, which is now named in his honor, conference after conference until 1992. He played his last game in 1999, according to PBA head statistician Fidel Mangonon.

No other import has even won more than two in PBA history, also according to Mangonon.

“Parks epitomized everything we could hope for an import: highly skilled, hard working, respectful of host country rules and sensibilities and a perfect gentleman on and off the court,” Salud also said.

Parks also had a brief career as a coach, leading San Miguel to a finals appearance in its first season last year in the Asean Basketball League.