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PBA: Blackwater waiting on commissioner's decision on Parks

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/12/19/20181221-rayparks.jpg"/></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- The Blackwater Elite are still waiting on the decision of the PBA commissioner regarding the status of its rookie pick, Bobby Ray Parks Jr.The Elite took Parks, a former two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player, with the second overall pick in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft last December. However, Parks entered the draft with the understanding that he will not be able to play in the PBA until the end of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) season, as he is still playing for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas.Indeed, Parks missed the draft ceremony on December 16 as Alab was playing an out-of-town game.Blackwater team governor Silliman Sy revealed that he had met with Parks and his manager, Charlie Dy, regarding the player&#x27;s status for the upcoming season of the PBA, as they had yet to come to an agreement on when Parks will start suiting up for the Elite.&quot;During the meeting, Ray said that on page two of his application for the Rookie Draft, there was a questionnaire on whether you have an existing contract or not, and it was stated clearly there that he has an existing contract with Alab to play in the ABL this current season,&quot; said Sy.&quot;So again sabi ko, &#x27;Yes, this revelation actually, I knew it last night only,&#x27;&quot; he admitted.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/pba/news/2019/01/08/meet-2019-pba-opening-day-muses-51859">READ: Meet the 2019 PBA Opening Day Muses</a></li></ul>Sy decided to approach the Commissioner&#x27;s Office about the issue, intending to clarify whether or not Parks can miss out on the first few months of the season to fulfill his commitments to Alab Pilipinas.It can be recalled that San Miguel Beer went through a similar situation after selecting Christian Standhardinger with the top overall pick of the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft. The Filipino-German center missed the entirety of the Philippine Cup as he was still playing for Hong Kong Eastern in the ABL, and only joined the Beermen in the Commissioner&#x27;s Cup.However, Sy explained that Standhardinger was a special case.&quot;During the time that we talked with Christian Standhardinger, we were in Malaysia, the whole board was there to support the Gilas team, it was during the term of Chito Narvasa,&quot; he said, referring to the embattled former commissioner of the league.Narvasa asked the entire board of governors if they would allow Standhardinger to enter the draft, knowing full well that he will have to miss the entire All-Filipino Conference.&quot;Everybody said yes,&quot; Sy said. &quot;Because if the board had not said yes during the time, then Christian would not be able to play in Season 43. So everybody said yes, it was an express approval of the board.&quot;No such question was asked regarding Parks, the Blackwater official pointed out.&quot;Sinabi ko rin kay Charlie &#x27;yun, na there was the express approval of the board. Now, on this case, when Ray-Ray joined the draft, hindi naman napag-usapan sa board &#x27;yun na pwede siyang mag-laro sa next conference,&quot; said Sy.&quot;Tinanggap &#x27;yung application niya (for the Draft). But ako, to be honest, sarili ko I did not read the Page 2, because siyempre, hindi na kami umaabot doon sa level na &#x27;yun. So sabi ko, ire-raise up ko na lang kay Commissioner,&quot; he added.Asked about Parks&#x27; case, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said they were still studying the situation.&quot;Titingnan namin kung may precedent &#x27;yun,&quot; he said. &quot;So, ia-apply natin kay Bobby Ray Parks. Pinapa-check ko sa legal namin, kay Atty. Melvin Mendoza, kung napag-usapan sa board &#x27;yun, at kung may precedent nga.&quot;Sy said they will respect whatever decision the Commissioner&#x27;s Office will come out with.&quot;&#x27;Pag sinabi ni Office of the Commissioner na dapat mag-laro ka and join the opening ceremony on January 13, then sabi niya, &#x27;Okay.&#x27; They will abide naman by the rule. Kami naman, we will also respect the opinion of the commissioner,&quot; he said.Asked for comment, Dy confirmed that they met Sy to discuss Parks&#x27; plans. The agent also stressed that Parks intends to fulfill his commitment to Alab Pilipinas before playing in the PBA -- as the player has said repeatedly heading into the draft.&quot;We made it clear since he submitted his draft application that he&#x27;s going to finish his ABL stint first, since he still has a contract until the end of the season,&quot; Dy told ABS-CBN News.This has been the understanding all throughout the process, which is why Parks was excused from attending the draft ceremony by the Commissioner, Dy explained.Moreover, Dy sees no difference in Parks&#x27; case to that of Standhardinger&#x27;s.&quot;If Standhardinger was allowed to finish his stint with a foreign club, why won&#x27;t they allow Ray to finish his stint with a local club team like Alab?&quot; he pointed out.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

The Blackwater Elite are still waiting on the decision of the PBA commissioner regarding the status of its rookie pick, Bobby Ray Parks Jr.

The Blackwater Elite are still waiting on the decision of the PBA commissioner regarding the status of its rookie pick, Bobby Ray Parks Jr.

PBA: Blackwater waiting on commissioner's decision on Parks

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PBA: Blackwater waiting on commissioner's decision on Parks

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 08, 2019 07:46 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 08, 2019 08:39 PM PHT

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Blackwater Elite

Ray Parks Jr.

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