MANILA – Two Philippine-based basketball players are set to spread their wings abroad after Bobby Ray Parks Jr. is slated to play in Japan B. League, while Jack Danielle Animam has signed with a professional league in Serbia.
After being released by TNT Tropang GIGA months ago, Nagoya Dolphins announced on Tuesday that they had acquired Filipino-American Parks under the Asian Player Quota.
“It is my honor and privilege to represent our team, and I can’t wait to get out there and compete and do our best to bring home a championship to the city of Nagoya,” the 28-year-old Parks said.
This will be Parks’ second overseas stint after playing for the Texas Legends in the National Basketball Association’s Developmental League in 2015. He also represented Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League.
“I love to play both ends of the floor (defense and offense) and can defend multiple positions. I like the challenge of guarding the best player. I do my best to attack, read and create opportunities for my teammates, and can knock down the three-ball,” according to the former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay.
The Shingo Kajiyama-mentored Nagoya wants to improve their fourth-place performance in the West District last season, with a 32-24 slate.
Meanwhile, Animam signed a contract with Radniki Kragujevac of Serbia’s First Women’s Basketball League, putting her one step closer to a future stint in the Women’s National Basketball Association.
“I’m so happy and proud that I got this far. It’s so overwhelming right now, and I’m super excited,” said the 6-foot-2 Bulacan-native Animam.
Prior to her Serbia shift, Animam won several titles with the National University Lady Bulldogs in the Philippine University Athletic Association before playing as an import for Shih Hsin University in Taiwan’s University Basketball Association and the Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League in the United States.
As a member of the national women’s basketball team, Animam was also a double gold medal winner during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games as part of the 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 basketball team.
Radnički, which is coached by Nenad Milovanović, finished ninth in the First Women’s Basketball League standings last season with a 7-15 win-loss record./PN
