When Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes announced Kiefer Ravena, Kobe Paras, Raymar Jose, and Christian Hardinger as part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool last June 9, he made it clear that the National Team is still open to additions.
And after making numerous calls asking whether Bobby Ray Parks Jr. is interested in joining the team, Parks and his agent Charlie Dy finally made the call on Monday night. The 24-year-old swing man was then in attendance for the first practice of Gilas Pilipinas in preparation for the 2017 SEA Games and FIBA Asia Cup, Tuesday night.
“Ray-Ray is now going to be added to the pool,” Reyes said about the new addition to the selection.
“Ray called me the other day and he said he wanted to come in and he wanted to be part of the pool and I said he’s welcome.”
However, Parks cannot be enlisted in the 2017 Jones Cup, as the line-up has already been submitted to the tournament’s organizers.
“Unfortunately we’ve already submitted our lineup for the Jones Cup. So unless we’re able make any representations and the organizers allow it, I don’t think he can make it anymore for the Jones Cup,” the 53-year-old mentor shared.
The spot that Parks is auditioning for right now is either for the FIBA Asia Cup or the SEA Games. And Reyes stressed that he has to fight for his spot just like everyone else.
“He can still make it but he has to earn the spot just like everyone else,” Reyes remarked about Parks, who last represented the country during the 2016 FIBA OQT.
