RAY Parks Jr. won his fourth Southeast Asian Games gold medal recently after he helped Gilas Pilipinas capture the title in Thailand.
As an amateur player, Parks was part of the 2011, 2013, and 2017 teams, but this year was the first time as a pro, being under contract with the Osaka Evessa in the Japan B.League.
The 32-year-old Parks put himself in the same breath as other Filipino athletes who won multiple gold medals in the SEA Games, including Kiefer Ravena who has five in his resume, but none of it would have been possible without the clearance from his ballclub.
READ: Gilas powers past questionable calls en route to SEAG gold medal
The SEA Games is not part of the FIBA calendar where the Japan B.League is obligated to release their teams for the national team.
“Definitely easy in a sense,” said Parks when he got the offer to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the SEA Games. “But this won’t happen without my mother team Osaka Evessa. I don’t just represent my country and myself but I represent them, the B.League also.”
“I’m truly proud and thankful that they allowed me to be here,” added Parks, who re-joined his mother ballclub shortly after the gold medal match last Friday.
Gilas coach Norman Black was thankful that Parks came aboard to beef up the line-up after several revisions to the roster.
"We all have seen him throughout his career. We know how good he is. I'm just happy that he said yes to me to be part of the team and he was able to get the okay from his team in Japan," said Black.
Parks also got a lot of support from the Filipino fans including his wife Zeinab Harake who also made the trip to Bangkok for his bid for a fourth SEA Games.
“It feels like home. ‘Yung mga kababayan natin na sumuporta, ‘yung asawa ko. It’s great. 2011 [was my first], now, I’m married, two kids, it’s a wonderful feeling to have that support,” he stated.
Gilas Pilipinas won the gold medal against Thailand, 70-64, in front of a pro-hometown crown who were determined to see their team finally land a gold medal in men’s basketball.
Already familiar with Southeast Asian basketball with the SEA Games as well as the ASEAN Basketball League where he once played, Parks knew from the start that the job wasn’t easy.
“Southeast Asia as a whole is getting better. Basketball is more global. You just have to rise up to the challenge and stay ahead of the curve."
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