BOBBY Parks' death is being mourned even in Indonesia.
Indonesian fans who fell in love with the humble, soft-spoken import during his short stint with the Aspac Jakarta ballclub in the late nineties have taken to Twitter to express their sadness after Parks died of lung cancer on Wednesday afternoon.
Following his stint in the PBA where he won an unprecedented seven best import awards, Parks suited up for Aspac Jakarta in the old Kobatama League, considered the premier basketball league in Indonesia at the time.
Now called Dell Aspac Jakarta, the team is currently seeing action in Indonesia’s National Basketball League.
In an interview with Bolanews.com, Aspac team owner Irawan Haryono mourned the death of his former import.
“Bobby is part of our family,” Haryono said.
Park’s stint in Indonesia was an eventful one as he even suited up as import for the Indonesian club teams in the Seba tournament and Asian Basketball Confederation (now Fiba-Asia) Champions Cup.
Indonesia Basketball Association secretary general Agus Mauro tweeted that Parks was called 'The Ice Man' or 'Uncle Bob' in their home country during the time when he was playing for Aspac Jakarta.
Mauro also tweeted that Parks had such a good relationship with the Aspac team owner that the player eventually named her daughter after Haryono.
“Bobby Parks daughter was named ‘Ira’ as his tribute to Aspac Boss, Irawan Haryono #RIPBobbyParks @DELL_ASPAC,” Mauro tweeted.
Incidentally, Parks faced the Indonesia Warriors in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) finals when he coached the San Miguel Beermen last season. The Warriors won the crown in three games.
ABL chief executive officer Anthony Macri said the league is also mourning the loss of the former Beermen coach.
"The ABL is deeply saddened by the the passing of Bobby Parks, Sr. this afternoon. Our deepest condolences go out to the Parks family,” the ABL said in a statement through its Twitter account @ABLNews.
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