THE NATIONAL University Bulldogs’ talented rookie Bobby Ray Parks is on his way to capturing the coverted Most Valuable Player award in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament after he topped the statistical race at the end of the elimination round last weekend.
Parks, the son of former PBA import Bobby Parks, averaged a league-best 20 points on top of 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks.
Parks is on his way to being the first player to win the MVP award in spite of his team not reaching the semifinal round. The league MVP, solely based on statistical points, will be awarded during the championship round.
Parks, whose mother Marifer Barbosa is a Filipino, returned to the country with his American father last year after spending only three years in the United States.
His eligibility was questioned, but he got the go-signal to play a week before the league opening.
Kiefer Ravena, also a contender for the MVP plum, is set to receive the Rookie of the Year trophy with his phenomenal averages of 13.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals. Parks isn’t eligible for the rookie plum since only players fresh off high school are qualified.
Other top performers are Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter (13.3 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.4 apg and 1.9 bpg), Adamson’s Alex Nuyles, (15.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.3 apg) and Far Eastern University’s Aldrech Ramos (11.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.5 apg). /Correspondent Jonas Panerio