Manila Bulletin’s Readers Choice crowned 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-World

Source: Manila Times
The teen-aged Filipino son of legendary Philippine Basketball Association import Bobby Ray Parks is following into the footsteps of his illustrious father in the highly competitive American high school hoop scene.

Bobby Ray Jr., who is nicknamed Ray-Ray, currently plays as starting shooting guard for Melrose Academy Golden Wildcats in Tennessee, is ranked 12th in the United States and second in the state, according Maxpreps.com.

The older Parks is remembered by Filipino basketball fans of all ages for his slashing and high-leaping plays in 12 seasons with the PBA during which he won five league titles. Nicknamed “The Michael Jordan of the Philippines,” Parks made his PBA debut for San Miguel Beer in 1987 then saw action for Formula Shell up to 1998, finishing his 12-year career with nearly 9,000 points, over 3,000 rebounds and more than 1,000 assists in 220 games.

In 1989, Bobby Ray Sr. averaged a whopping 52.6 points in 23 games with a high of 72 points. Parks won a PBA record of seven “Best Import” awards and was inducted into the Philippine Basketball Hall of Fame last year.

A chip off the old hoop block, the younger Parks moved to the United States in 2006 in order to live with his father and stepmother Jasmine, also a Filipina. His mother, Marifer Celine Barbosa, is divorced from Bobby and now resides in Los Angeles.

Ray-Ray Parks, 17, is already a 6’4 left-handed finesse player at 195 pounds. He is averaging 10.4 points, 2.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals for a team looking to capture a state title.

He speaks fluent Tagalog and is carefully weighing the pros and cons of returning to Manila after he finishes high school, or to continue honing his skills in the highly competitive US college circuit.

Ray-Ray continues to keep in touch with his friends in the Philippines and dreams of one day suiting up for the Philippine national team.
For now, Ray-Ray is beginning to shine in local teams at his father’s home state.

Melrose recently captured the Tennessee State AAA District 16 title, and then went on to win their Region 8 AAA playoff game, which set up this weekend’s Region 8 semi-final game against Memphis Southwind.

Last season, Parks Jr. played at Saint George’s Independent School in Collierville, Tennessee, but transferred Melrose in search for better competition than what he faced while starring at the small private school.

When 6’5 Bobby Ray Sr. was enshrined into the Hall of Fame almost six months ago, his son joined him and was able to train with the Philippine national junior team, much to the chagrin of national team Executive Director Noli Eala.

“Ray-Ray has the perfect basketball body—long-limbed, slim, just like his father . . . The kid is special,” said Eala in an article written by Luke Winn for the Sports Illustrated Magazine website. “Bobby is open for Ray-Ray to play college in Manila and his godfather Norman [Black, now a head coach there], I’m sure, is talking to Ray-Ray about the possibility.”

Wearing the same No. 22 jersey that his father wore at Memphis State University (now Memphis University) from 1980 to 1984, Ray has benefited from his experiences in the US, improving his game to the point where he now receives player evaluations from men’s basketball recruiting sites.

“He [Parks] has size, strength, and a terrific stroke from deep to go along with very good basketball blood lines,” one scout said on espn.com. “This lefty has range out to 24’ with a good release.”

Ray-Ray, 17 and still growing, is already churning good numbers—a field goal percentage of 54 percent from inside the 3-point line and 39 percent past the line. If his development as a hoop star continues, he may one day make a big difference for the RP national team in its quest to regain its glory days of yesteryears.