Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. has achieved a feat that no player in the ASEAN Basketball League’s nine-year history has done.
On Sunday in Singapore, San Miguel Alab Pilipinas’ main man became the first-ever player to bag the ABL Local Most Valuable Player award for three consecutive years.
Parks Jr. averaged 16.6 points on 52-percent shooting, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per outing en route to the plum, where he bested Brandon Jawato, Delvin Goh, and Chris Dierker.
Nobody was more proud of him than his head coach Jimmy Alapag.
“I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s a great player. He’s been a great player the last two seasons I’ve had him in the ABL,” the champion bench tactician told Tiebreaker Times.
“I couldn’t be more proud that he won another MVP.”
Beyond winning accolades, though, Alapag is most impressed with the second-generation cager’s growth as a player and as an individual.
If there’s somebody in Alab who knows Parks, Jr. well, it is Alapag. Even before being together in the Filipino ball club, the two had already spent some time in Gilas Pilipinas.
“He’s always had a great work ethic.
“But I think he’s continued to expand his game. I think his shooting has gotten a lot better, I think his leadership has gotten much better,” Alapag shared.
Alapag also did not blink twice when asked if the former two-time UAAP MVP with National University has set the standard for local players in the ABL. He very quickly agreed.
“Yeah! Absolutely, absolutely!”
There really is no denying that Parks, Jr. has cemented his legacy in the ABL. But now, Alapag said that the challenge for the 26-year-old guard is to carry his exploits over to the PBA.
“As great a career as he’s had in the ABL, the challenge now is to carry that over to the PBA,” he said.
But the 41-year-old tacitician strongly believes that Parks, Jr. will have a great career ahead of him in the PBA, where he will be playing for Blackwater Elite after he was the second pick in 2018.
“I’m excited for him. I think he’s got a great PBA career ahead of him. So I’m excited to be able to witness all of it,” said the Philippine basketball legend.
“I’m excited for him next conference with Blackwater.”
