BOBBY Ray Parks slammed the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) over the rule limiting the participation of Fil-foreigners, putting a cloud of doubt on his stint with the newly-formed Mandaluyong El Tigres.
El Tigres coach Mac Cuan said last week Parks and Alab teammates including Lawrence Domingo are set to reinforce the expansion team for the coming MPBL conference.
However, MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes said Mandaluyong has to pick between Parks and Domingo since the home-and-away league has set a new rule limiting Fil-foreigners to just one per team and no taller than 6 feet 4 inches.
Parks, son of seven-time PBA best import Bobby Ray Parks and born and raised in the Philippines, is considered a Fil-foreigner under MPBL rules because he has foreign blood, said Duremdes.
“First time in my life I was considered an American in my own country,” wrote Parks on his Twitter account @ray15parks while reacting to a SPIN.ph story on the controversial rule.
Active and retired Fil-American PBA players have also reacted to the controversial MPBL rule, which Rob Reyes branded as 'racist' and Ali Peek as 'stupid.'
Parks, who has played numerous times for the Philippines in international competitions, was naturally dismayed.
“Dito ako pinanganak. May Filipino passport ako. So dahil sa kulay ng balat ko at dahil tatay ko ay Amerikano na dapat ako ikonsider na foreigner sa sarili kong bayan?” Parks said.
Cuan also criticized the rule on his Facebook account.
“Ray was born here, grew up here, played college ball here, played for the national team to represent our country, and most of all has a Philippine passport. Why is he not considered a local?” said Cuan.
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