IN a rare show of frustration, Bobby Ray Parks had a mouthful to say about the defense of University of Santo Tomas forward Kevin Ferrer on Sunday which he rued got too physical for comfort.
Held to 6-of-12 shooting from the field and nursing a sore wrist after the 62-71 loss to the Tigers, the two-time league MVP admitted he took his sweet time before leaving the dugout to calm himself before facing reporters.
“I took it upon myself to stay inside and really calm myself down before this interview because I might end up saying the wrong things,” Parks told reporters after emerging from the dugout.
Still, Parks couldn't help but express his frustration over the defense of Ferrer - a former teammate in the national team - which he said "just got a little too low" during the Final Four match.
“Playing RP team with him, I never really thought that he will come out like this. Coming into the game, he grabbed my finger and my wrist ... Just a little too low,” said Parks.
“Coming back into the game, Kevin Ferrer grabbed my wrist and finger. I don’t know what to say,” Parks added with a grin.
Parks, held to 14 points and to only two points at the half by Ferrer’s defense, said there also a moment in the match when NU center Emmanuel Mbe was hit in the groin during the highly physical match.
But Parks said he doesn't intend to retaliate.
“I guess they were thirsty for the win. I guess we have to come out and play, not having an intention to hurt somebody," said the son of legendary PBA import Bobby Parks.
"But hey, we have a lot of complaints in there. Jean (Mbe) had his balls grabbed. It’s just the craziest thing. We just have to come back and play aggressive. Play clean and aggressive.”
Drawing parallels from Michael Jordan during his early years with the Bulls, Parks said he looks at the Tigers as the "Detroit Pistons" he simply had to go through to win a first-ever UAAP championship.
“Hey, my dad's been through a lot of players like that. Michael Jordan had Detroit. This is my Detroit right here,” said Parks, looking back at Jordan's rivalry with Detroit's 'Bad Boys' in the eighties and early nineties.
“That’s just the easiest way to say it,” Parks added.
When a reporter asked who among the Pistons is Ferrer, Parks answered: “He is everybody, and more.”
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