I am once a big fan of the Philippine basketball league. When I was young I never failed to watch the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) games. With my old black and white National-brand tube, I had all the time to view the ball games.
I dreamt of becoming a great basketball player as most young Filipino kids would aspire during the “old days.” Of course, the basketball Legend – Sonny Jaworski (Robert Jaworski) was the most admired at that time alongside the names Ginebra or Anejo were the common shouts of the basketball aspirants.
Asides from admiring a particular team or a particular ball player, I never also failed to be a fan of some of PBA’s imports. These are the people who were tasked by various teams to showcase their basketball playing prowess amidst the local rosters. In some ways, I treated them as the “super heroes” of Philippine basketball. One whose unique features and unmistakable built will provide a boost to every team and most of the time deliver majority of the points in every ball game. Bobby Parks Sr. was one of them.
However, I was not a fan of Parks since he was not playing for my favorite team during that time. I even treated him as an opponent and antagonized his abilities just like every kid of my age. Even though this is the case, Bobby Parks was most renowned for being the best import of the PBA wen he stayed ten (10) years with Shell. Together with Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc, the three indeed made a mark in PBA history.
Bobby’s death has made me remember how great he was. And his presence in the PBA has always been a great memory for every Filipino who loved basketball.
With all the good times that you have made possible life here on earth, I pray that his soul may rest in peace with our Lord.
