PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial revealed that he has spoken to both Ray Parks and TNT with the hope that both camps will be able to find a resolution soon.
“Ilang beses na kami nag-usap ni Ray Parks at ng Talk N Text,” the amiable executive said in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, Tuesday.
It has been almost two months since the 27-year-old announced that he will not suit up for the Tropang Giga this season due to personal reasons. There have been no updates on whether both sides have worked things out already.
Their relationship turned sour, to say the least, as Parks’ reasoning was questioned by no less than team owner Manny V. Pangilinan through a post on his personal Facebook account.
That issue even reached the board level through league chairman Ricky Vargas, also the team governor of TNT. Parks is the second player in as many years to take a break from playing in the league.
Such a development was surprising, to say the least, since he was coming off an impressive campaign in the Philippine Cup bubble last year. He helped steer the flagship MVP franchise to its first all-Filipino finals since 2013.
Parks averaged a team-best 20.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in nearly 38 minutes of play in the eliminations. He also led TNT to the no. 3 seed to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
He then carried over his fine play in the playoffs, especially in the semis. There, he towed TNT from a 1-2 deficit versus Phoenix Super LPG on the way to the Finals with norms of 27.8 markers, 8.4 boards, and 3.6 dimes.
It was too unfortunate, then, that a nagging calf issue hurt their title chances. In the end, the Tropang Giga bowed to Ginebra, 1-4. Still, he was stellar, even becoming a favorite to win Best Player of the Conference honors.
Many then expected that the former three-time ABL MVP would receive a big contract. Previously, he’d only signed a one-year extension in February of last year. Then came his shocker of an announcement last March 6.
Marcial did not divulge what he and Parks have talked about. Still, he hopes that everything will turn out fine for both parties.
“Si Ray, dalawa o tatlong beses na nakausap ko. Sana talaga, maayos,” the fourth-year league chief said.
