MANILA, Philippines – Fil-Am Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. dreams of playing in the NBA someday. He took one small step closer to it.
Parks, son of the late former many-time PBA Best Import Bobby, Sr., on Tuesday said on Twitter he has been invited to work out for the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time four days after working out there.
Got called back to work out with the Lakers tomorrow :) Thank you Lord! #parasabayan
— Ray Parks (@ray15parks) June 24, 2014 The former National U standout and two-time UAAP MVP's announcement came four days after he also posted in both his Twitter and Instagram accounts that he had worked out with the Lakers where Kobe Bryant, one of the most popular players in the world, is suiting up.
Just finished working out with one of the best team in NBA history..dad,i know this is your favorite… http://t.co/XN9h7cg0v5
— Ray Parks (@ray15parks) June 20, 2014 Parks, who gave up his chance to suit up for US NCAA Division I school Georgia Tech to play for NU in the Phl, is hoping to become the second player with Filipino blood to play in the NBA since Raymond Townsend.
Japeth Aguilar, now with Brgy. Ginebra in the PBA and part of the Gilas Pilipinas team going to the FIBA World Cup in Spain this August, attempted to get a spot in the NBA but ended up going back home.
Parks hopes he'll end up with a better result.
Parks’ announcement came just a few days after another Filipino, Kobe Paras, has made a name for himself in a DeMar DeRozan tournament in California.
The 16-year-old Paras, son of the PBA's only Rookie MVP winner Benjie, erupted with 22 points he highlighted with three booming triples before fouling out with 48 seconds to go in a 50-57 loss by Los Angeles Cathedral to Long Beach Poly.
Paras, formerly of La Salle Greenhills, flew to the US last year to join Cathedral where he grew from a 6-3 guard to a 6-6 forward.
Undersized, Paras had to play center in the absence of Lucas Siewert, a 6-10 junior from Brazil known for his shooting skills, and had to guard the 6-8 Jordan Dallas of Poly with some success.
"He's OK," Cathedral coach William Middlebrooks told the Los Angeles Times, referring to Paras.
Paras first made a name for himself by being part of the Phl team that made it to last year's FIBA 3x3 World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia – the same tournament where he emerged the slam dunk champion after edging much heralded foes from the US, Spain and China.