PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial bared that he has spoken to both Ray Parks and TNT with the hope that both camps will be able to find a resolution soon.
“Ilang beses na kami nag-usap ni Ray Parks at ng Talk N Text,” the amiable executive said in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, Tuesday.
It has been almost two months since the 27-year-old announced that he won’t suit up for the Tropang Giga this season due to personal reasons, and there hasn’t been any update if the two sides have worked things out already.
It could be remembered that their relationship had turned sour, to say the least, as Parks’ reasoning was questioned by no less than team owner Manny V. Pangilinan through a post on his personal Facebook account.
That issue was even brought up to the board level by league chairman Ricky Vargas — also the team governor of TNT — as Parks is the second player in as many years to take a break from playing in the league.
Such a development was surprising, to say the least, for he was coming off an impressive campaign in the Philippine Cup bubble last year that saw him steer the flagship MVP franchise to its first all-Filipino finals since 2013.
Parks averaged a team-best 20.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in nearly 38 minutes of play in the eliminations, leading TNT to the no. 3 seed to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
He then carried over his fine play in the playoffs, especially in the semis where he towed TNT from a 1-2 deficit versus Phoenix Super LPG on the way to the Finals with norms of 27.8 markers, 8.4 boards, and 3.6 dimes.
It was too unfortunate, however, that a nagging calf issue hurt their title chances and bowed to Ginebra, 1-4, but he was undeniably stellar to the point that he was a favorite to win Best Player of the Conference honors.
It was then expected that the former three-time ABL MVP is set to have a big contract since he only signed a one-year extension back in February of last year, until his shocker of an announcement last March 6.
Marcial did not divulge what he and Parks have talked about, but he simply hopes that everything will turn out fine for both parties.
“Si Ray, dalawa o tatlong beses na nakausap ko. Sana talaga, maayos,” the fourth-year league chief said.
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