Ray Parks feels immensely honored to be spoken of in the same breath as some of the PBA’s all-time greats following a career-best outing on Tuesday night.
The second-generation cager sizzled with 40 points on a 72-percent clip alongside 11 rebounds, powering TNT to a 112-101 win over Terra Firma.
He became the second Texter in as many games to hit 40 after Roger Pogoy, who erupted for a career-high 45 in their 100-95 conquest of Alaska last Sunday.
Before the Gilas Pilipinas duo, the league had not see the same accomplishment for three decades.
Per PBA stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, they are the first local teammates in 30 years to score at least 40 in a game one after the other in a conference.
Who were the first to do so, you wonder?
Shell’s Ronnie Magsanoc had a career-high 40 in a 138-134 loss to Presto on July 1, 1990. Benjie Paras then had 45 in a 155-108 rout of Pepsi four days later.
“Great achievement. Those are great players, for sure. Just to be mentioned with their names, is a blessing and a privilege,” Parks expressed.
“Ninong ko pa sila pareho.”
TNT head coach Bong Ravena, meanwhile, feels very proud of his stars. And he hopes that they can sustain it as they continue their bubble journey.
The Tropang Giga have seized early leadership of the 2020 Philippine Cup with a 2-0 slate, and that’s largely thanks to Parks and Pogoy.
“We’re just happy that for the two wins, and happy at the same time with the performance of Roger and last night of Rayray. Hope they can sustain this,” said the veteran bench tactician.
“We really need to have guys, like… If they can score forty every night, it’s better for us. We’re just happy, we’re just glad that our performance is picking up while teams are adjusting.”
