Parks sparks Spring’s win in Cebu tiff

CEBU CITY – Seven-time PBA best import Bobby Parks unleashed his old, deadly form as Spring Cooking Oil bagged its third straight triumph at the expense of the RP Youth Team, 88-77, and moved one win closer to nailing a final seat in the Cebu Basketball League President’s Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.

The 40-year-old Parks, relegated to supporting roles in the team’s previous victories, stepped up in offense to topscore with 24 points, most of them in the second half where the Oil Makers held their ground in the face of the Nationals’ repeated uprisings.

Parks, who has chosen to remain in the local basketball scene even after those seven best import awards in his many years in the PBA, was ably backed by Carlo Espiritu and Joel Co, who scored 17 points each, and Mike Buendia, who doled out 12.

"Bobby (Parks) is still capable of doing damage offensively, he’s a true leader as he knows when to leave the job for his teammates or step up when he’s needed," said Spring Coach Tito Palma.

Spring needs only to win one of its two elimination games against ML Kwarta Padala and Osaka Iridology.

Both ML Kwarta and Osaka suffered second losses after three games.

ML Kwarta absorbed a 78-92 defeat from sister team M. Lhuillier Jewelers while Osaka lost to Guardo-Pampanga Stars, 58-77.

M. Lhuillier, whose only loss was inflicted by Spring in the opening day, rode on the fourth quarter heroics of point guard Aldric Reyes who poured in 10 of his 12 points in the final canto to lift the Jewelers.

Reyes, limited to just two points in the first three quarters, scored five in ML Kwarta’s seven-to-nothing run to give M. Lhuillier its biggest lead, 77-63, going into the final five minutes.

Streak-shooting Henry Fernandez led the Jewelers with 18 points, former PBA import and now long-time Cebu resident Darryl Smith chipped in 17 and Jerry Jaca added 16.

Guardo-Pampanga, meanwhile, reduced the Iridologists to a fumbling lot as Osaka failed to draw enough firepower from its imports who played lackadaisically all throughout.

Except for MBA’s Cid White who topped with 16 points, the other reinforcements where missing in offense. Former Shell cager Joel Dualan, who refused to assert his inside game, contributed only four points. One-time PBL MVP Bong Marata also had fourth while John Edel Cardel produced nothing.

ML Kwarta and Pampanga now sport similar 2-1 win-loss cards.