Four of the country’s finest basketball players begin a new chapter in their respective careers.
Ray Parks will return to the court after an almost 10-month absence but not with the TNT Tropang Giga in the Philippine Basketball Association. Instead, he now plays for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in the B.League.
Also in the B.League, former University of the Philippines teammates Kobe Paras and Juan Gomez de Liaño will make their pro debuts with Niigata Albirex BB and Earthfriends Tokyo Z, respectively.
Then in Serbia, the most celebrated women’s basketball player the country has produced in Jack Animam will don the red and white for the first time. She makes her SPD Radnički debut in the First Women’s Basketball League of Serbia.
New Home
For the better part of the last decade, Kobe Paras has gone to America and back, playing and studying in various colleges before, ultimately, finding his way in University of the Philippines.
But at the age of 24, the second generation cager needed to get away from his comfort zone and turn pro.
After a brief stint in the US, the 6-foot-6 Paras finally settled in signing with Niigata.
“I’m very excited. I’m so grateful for my team, Niigata Albirex, for taking a chance on me,” Paras told Tiebreaker Times.
“I can’t wait to meet my new teammates out there and hear the amazing fans cheer us on every game!”
He will make his Albirex debut against Kyoto at the latter’s home floor City Hall Plaza Aore Nagaoka at 1:05 PM.
Albirex has retooled after a disappointing 16-38 finish last season. It tapped a new head coach in Fujitaka Hiraoka and signing new reinforcements Jeff Ayres and Tshilidzi Nephawe.
New Identity
For years, brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño have been playing together anywhere they go.
But on Saturday at 5:00 PM, Juan begins life without Javi as he will make his debut for Tokyo Z.
Earthfriends take on Kagawa at Kanonji City Gymnasium in Tokyo.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play overseas and I’m glad to have this chance. This is a good way to start my pro career, especially being in Tokyo,” Gomez de Liano told Tiebreaker Times.
Though a B1 talent, Juan chose the road less taken. He begins his career in B2 as new Earthfriends head coach Hugo Lopez has big plans for him. Lopez is a well-known coach in Spain and he might be the key in bringing Juan there.
Juan, though, has his focus on lifting Tokyo Z out of the cellars after a disappointing 15th place finish last season.
New Scenery
Five minutes after Juan steps on the Tokyo court, Ray Parks will also write a new chapter in his career. Nagoya takes on Shibuya at Aoyama Gakuin Memorial Hall.
For Parks – who had a falling out with TNT during the off-season – being an “import” is his true calling. He wants to follow the footsteps of his dad Bobby.
“Every time I touch the floor, I feel like I always have a responsibility and a chip on my shoulder – and a bullseye on my back,” the three-time ABL MVP told Power and Play.
“Every time I step on the court, I have to play like an import, whether it may be in the ABL, whether it may be in the G-League, whether it may be in the PBA. Quite frankly now, it’s just more of like a title, like, ‘Yeah! You are an Asian import!’
“But then, I felt like I’ve been doing the responsibilities needed as an import,” the well-travelled hooper continued.
The Diamond Dolphins have high hopes after signing Parks, believing that he is the missing piece in making the playoffs this year after missing out on the boat by just a few games.
Nagoya will have new imports in Shayne Whittington, Coty Clarke, and Scott Eatherton as well.
New Role
After six years in college that saw her win championship after championship both here at home and in Taiwan, Jack Animam will begin her pro career in Serbia.
And her first big test will happen at 8:30 PM when SPD Radnički takes on debuting Proleter 023 at Gordana Bogojević Hall – Radnicki’s home floor in Kragujevac.
“I’m just so happy and proud that I got this far,” said Animam.
Animam will be entrusted with a huge responsibility with Radnicki – a team that finished in eighth place out of 12 last year.
Yes, she is not only expected to be an import but also as the team’s leader.
“I think Jack will be the leader of this team this season,” said Radnički head coach Nenad Milovanović.
