MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) allowed Bobby Ray Parks Jr. to finish his commitment to San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the 2018-2019 ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) before jumping to the professional ranks.
But the two-time UAAP and ABL Most Valuable Player needs to sign the three-year, maximum rookie contract worth P10.4 million extended to him by Blackwater Elite.
“Ni-research kasi namin at may precedent so papayagan namin si Bobby Ray Parks na maglaro sa ABL,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said in an interview with DZMM’s FastBreak. “Pero kailangan nilang pumirma ng kontrata.”
Marcial cited the cases of retired PBA cager Alvin Patrimonio, San Miguel Beermen center Christian Standhardinger and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings’ Earl Scottie Thompson in allowing Parks to finish his Alab stint.
Among the three, Standhardinger has the most similar situation with Parks as he did not play for the Beermen last year until he finished his contract with the ABL team Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions.
Marcial was asked by Blackwater team owner Siliman Sy to intervene in the situation after the latter failed to strike a deal with Parks, who is hell bent on finishing his Alab Pilipinas contract before playing for the Elite.
Sy’s contention was he wants the Filipino-American guard to be present in their 2019 PBA Philippine Cup campaign but the ABL will not end its 2018-2019 season until May, just in time for the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Parks, the No. 2 overall selection of the Elite in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft, could be a vital piece in the Elite’s campaign in the Philippine Cup after it was decimated with the exit of veterans Nard John Pinto, John Paul Erram and Paul Zamar./PN
