Ray Parks Jr. is intrigued with the new PBA Draft rule that may play a decisive role in whether he’ll finally take his act to the pro league or wait another year.
“Ang galing ng bagong rule no?” Parks told reporters during Tuesday’s ASEAN Basketball League press launch at Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.
“Nakakainterest lang siya na next year siya iimplement (It’s interesting that the new rule will be implemented next year),” added the reigning two-time ABL Local Most Valuable Player.
Beginning in 2019, teams holding the No. 1 pick in the draft will be barred from trading their rights to avoid a repetition of the controversy that saw Columbian Dyip (then-Kia) trading the selection to San Miguel Beer.
Parks remains noncommittal regarding plans to join the 2018 proceedings set Dec. 16, with a third consecutive appearance in the ABL the only thing assured by that time as he’ll play the lead role in San Miguel Alab Pilipinas’ bid to retain the crown.
While it may look as if Parks is going to shy away at the draft, he may draw inspiration from doing the same journey a current PBA rookie did last season.
It may recall that Christian Standhardinger, the man San Miguel picked after acquiring Kia’s rights, fulfilled his season-long commitment to play for Hong Kong Eastern in the ABL, forcing him to miss the Beermen’s successful run to a fourth straight Philippine Cup title.
The long-haired Fil-German made his PBA debut in the Commissioner’s Cup last May.
“It’s possible,” Parks said when asked of the possibility. “I know (Alab co-owner and Parks’ agent) Charlie (Dy) is very lenient on me. He wants me to be in a best position and he wants the best for me, whether I play in the ABL or go through the draft.”
Should he finally decides to end the long PBA wait, Parks will make it a three-way race alongside two NCAA stars for the No. 1 pick which is all but assured to be owned by Columbian Dyip.
Lyceum’s CJ Perez and San Beda’s Robert Bolick have also made their case for the top pick with their superb performances in the ongoing NCAA tourney.
Perez is averaging 19.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.4 steals while Bolick has 16.6 points highlighted by a 50-point performance against Arellano earlier in the season with 5.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
