NU chief backer Hans Sy hopes for Parks success in NBA quest

MANILA, Philippines -- SM Prime Holdings chief executive officer Hans Sy encouraged Filipino basketball-crazy fans to rally behind former National University superstar Bobby Ray Parks, who just last weekend, inched closer to fulfilling his NBA dream.

“Let’s all pray and rally behind Rayray to do well in the D-League,” said Sy in an official statement sent to Philstar.com, just days after the 6-foot-4 Fil-Am guard made sports headlines after being selected 25th overall by D-League team Texas Legends in the draft.

“I’m very happy for him (Parks) because it’s a step toward his dream to the NBA.”

But the son of Filipino-Chinese business taipan Henry Sy cautioned the former two-time UAAP MVP from enjoying the seeming breakthrough, saying he “still has a lot of work to do in order to fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA.”

“He cannot celebrate yet because there is still a lot of work ahead in his pursuit for the NBA,” added Sy, the main backer of the NU Bulldogs where Parks starred in college. 

Sy flew all the way to the United States to watch Parks play for the Dallas Mavericks during the NBA Summer League last July in Las Vegas.

The SM big boss, however, mentioned that he won’t be able to watch the left-handed Parks play in his first game for the Legends, citing his full-packed schedule in Manila.

The son of legendary PBA import Bobby Parks, Sr. averaged 3.0 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.0 minutes of play with the Mavericks in the Summer League.

Parks’ best performance in the Mavs uniform was a 10-point, five- rebound, four-steal and one-assist stint as Dallas whipped the NBA D-League Select squad, 104-86.