The impact brought by Bobby Ray Parks was strong enough and Blackwater found itself among the early frontrunners in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The 26-year-old Parks emerged as the Elite’s top gunner and immediately steered the team to victories in their first four outings to take the early lead in the mid-season conference.
During that stretch, the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft averaged 23.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals in an all-around performance he capped with a career-best of 28 points in a thrilling 108-107 overtime win over Barangay Ginebra in only his second game in the league.
Parks’ heroics gained him his first ever PBA Press Corps Rookie of the Month honor for May, beating out Columbian Dyip’s CJ Perez (24.3, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists).
The son of the late great PBA Import Bobby Parks became the third player to win the honor first handed out starting this season. Others who also gained the nod for the monthly citation were Perez (January and March) and Jayvee Mocon of Rain or Shine (February and March).
Curiously, Parks won his initial match-up against Perez in a duel pitting the top two picks in last year’s draft.
Parks scored 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists as the Elite defeated the Dyip, 118-110, last May 26.
Perez finished with 17 points and seven rebounds in the Dyip’s third straight loss to open their campaign.
