Parks son tapped for YOG

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-American Bobby Ray Parks, who will spearhead the RP 3-on-3 basketball team in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August, is doing well in the ongoing Nike All-Asia Camp in China.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala said yesterday Parks, son of former seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby, powered his team to the Camp championship with his sterling play at point guard.

The 6-foot-3 Parks, 16, whose mother Marifer Celine Barbosa is a Filipina, scored his squad’s last five points to lead his team to the title and earn a spot in the All-Star game set last night.

“Bobby Ray Parks made the All-Star team. His team won camp championship of the Nike All-Asia Camp in China,” said an ecstatic Eala.

The elder Parks was more impressed.

“The coaches were impressed by the way he was playing point guard, being able to score and run the team,” said Parks.

The younger Parks will team up with Keifer Ravena, Jeron Teng, Michael Tolomia and Michael Pate in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

The Filipinos, who will be coached by former La Salle player Mon Jose, are bracketed in Group D with the South Africans, the Croats, the Spaniards and US Virgin Islands.

RP kicks off its campaign against US Virgin Islands on Aug. 16, then will take on Spain on Aug. 17, Croatia on Aug. 18 and South Africa on Aug. 19.

The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals are scheduled Aug. 21, 22 and 23, respectively.

Group A is comprised of Greece, India, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Serbia, while Argentina and Iran head Group B which includes, Egypt, Lithuania and Panama.

Group C is composed of Israel, Singapore, Turkey, the United States and a representative from Central Africa.