Parks forgoes Georgia Tech, plays for NU

MANILA, Philippines - Newly appointed National University (NU) senior men’s basketball team coach Eric Altamirano said yesterday prized recruit Bobby Ray Parks will suit up for the Bulldogs in the UAAP this year and promised to bring the varsity to new heights.

Since 1987, NU has finished no higher than fourth place in 2001-02. The Bulldogs wound up fifth with a 7-7 record under interim coach Eric Gonzales last season. But with Parks’ addition, Altamirano said the outlook is bright.

“Our goal is to make it to the Final Four in two years,” said Altamirano who piloted Purefoods to the PBA All-Filipino championship in 1997. “We want to be competitive immediately and make an impact.”

Altamirano said Parks, 17, has obtained a certification from the Department of Education that he has completed his high school requirements. He enrolled at NU as a freshman last year. Under usual circumstances, a Fil-foreigner must establish two years of residence before gaining eligibility to play in the UAAP seniors. But Parks was born in the Philippines and lived here until he was brought to the US by his father Bobby four years ago.

“Bobby Ray’s case is similar to Maui Villanueva’s,” said Altamirano referring to the former La Salle cager who gained immediate eligibility to play in the UAAP coming from Japan where his parents worked. “Bobby Ray played for the Philippines in the first Youth Olympics in Singapore last year. Residence is not necessary in his case.”

NU athletics director and Barako Bull coach Junel Baculi said pending the submission of documents to prove his eligibility status, Parks will play for the Bulldogs this coming season.

Parks’ father confirmed the other day that his son will not accept a scholarship offer from Georgia Tech, a US NCAA Division I school. Last November, Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt had announced that Parks would suit up for the Yellow Jackets varsity. 

“Bobby Ray will play at least two years with NU then he’ll study his options and decide whether or not to continue his college career in the US,” said Parks who will work closely with Baculi in the NU front office as a consultant and train the Bulldogs’ big men. “After two years, Bobby Ray will have gained enough experience and confidence to play wherever he decides. But it’s also possible that he’ll finish his college career at NU.”

The former seven-time PBA Best Import awardee said his son will probably grow some more inches and end up taller than him. Parks, a southpaw, is now 6-5. “He’s catching up,” beamed Parks’ 6-6 father, noting their slight height difference. “Bobby Ray’s got skills I never had. He’s quite a player.”

Parks’ mother is Marifer Celine Barbosa, a Filipina. He has dual citizenship.

Altamirano, 44, ended a coaching stint with the Philippines’ under-16 and under-18 teams to join the Bulldogs. “I’m grateful to the SBP through Mr. MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan, SBP president) and (executive director) Noli (Eala) and most especially, to Mr. Jun Sy for giving me the opportunity to coach the youth team the last two years and in giving honor to our country,” he said. “I learned a lot with the national team. Now, it’s time to give others the chance to experience what I did. In any way I can assist the national team, I will be ready to do what I can for our country.”

Altamirano said he’s bringing in five rookies to beef up the Bulldogs who lose Jewel Ponferrada, Merwin Baloran, Kokoy Hermosisimo and Gerome Tungkol from last season’s roster. The newcomers are Parks, 6-4 Robi Celiz, 6-3 Dennis Villamor, 6-3 Kyle Neypes and 5-7 Cedrick Labingisa. The holdovers are 5-10 Joseph Terso, 5-9 Ivan Ludovice, 6-1 Choi Ignacio, 6-0 Ajeet Singh, 6-3 Jeff Javillonar, 6-4 Glenn Khobuntin, 6-6 Marion Magat, 6-7 Jean Mbe, 6-2 Larry Malanday, 6-4 Joseph Eriubu and 6-0 Paolo Javelona.

It won’t be Altamirano’s first time to coach in the UAAP. In 1996, he led his alma mater UP to the Final Four. Altamirano went on to coach in the PBA. 

Altamirano said he hopes the SBP will retain the concept of building a national seniors team with a long-term perspective. 

“I realize there is pressure on the national team to show results now,” he said. “But I think the direction should be long-term to target the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. We’ve kept our under-16 and under-18 teams intact the last two years and our players will be our future senior stars, like Jeron Teng and Kiefer Ravena. Iran did that with its under-16 team, kept it intact and brought it up until they were ready to play in the Olympics. It was like an eight to 10-year program. The perfect model was the Northern Cement team of Mr. (Danding) Cojuangco. The team was intact for several years until the players moved to the PBA. By then, they were ripe for the pros.”