by Waylon Galvez
If first impression indeed lasts then rookie Bobby Ray Parks Jr. will certainly have a happy and smooth relationship with his new family at Blackwater.
Parks surprised team coaching staff, including interim coach Aries Dimaunahan, when he arrived an hour before call time in his first practice session with the Elite, the team that selected him No. 2 overall in the previous PBA Rookie Draft, as preparation resumes for the team for the Commissioner’s Cup next month.
“He’s here early, I think an hour before call time,” said Dimaunahan yesterday following the team’s two-hour weights and drill sessions held at the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong City.
“It’s a good sign because you could see his commitment to the team and for himself,” added Dimaunahan.
It marked the first time that Parks joined the team after me missed the entire Philippine Cup due to his commitment with ALAB Pilipinas San Miguel Beer in the ASEAN Basketball League.
Parks recently signed a two-conference deal, or until the end of the season, with Blackwater and the 6-foot-3 forward said he is all about doing the same thing that he knows and that is to help win games and championships – something he did for ALAB last year.
“At the end of the day, regardless of what season it is, you just go out to win championship, nothing less than that. I’m still hungry as I was in ALAB, and same thing,” said Parks.
A born again Christian, the son of the late Bobby Parks – a legend in the PBA as he holds the record of seven Best Import trophies – said that he is blessed to be given an opportunity to play the games he loves.
He is confident that things will work out well for the team for as long as they continue to develop the chemistry, which is already evident in his first day on a team loaded with young players like fellow rookies Paul Desiderio, Abu Tratter and Diego Dario, as well as mainstays Mac Belo, Allein Maliksi, Mike DiGregorio and Roi Sumang.
