By Jonas Terrado
TNT KaTropa believes that Ray Parks Jr’s debut performance in a losing effort against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is a strong indication of how a good fit he is in the long run, especially when team captain Jayson Castro returns from an ankle injury.
Ray Parks Jr. scored 17 points in his TNT KaTropa debut. (PBA Images)
“We run some different stuff to what he’s used to and it will be obviously much easier if Jayson is here, just allowing him to play more the natural role that he’s going to play when he comes back,” TNT active consultant Mark Dickel said after Friday’s 96-93 loss to Ginebra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Parks scored 17 points after being dealt from Blackwater, sparking a comeback from 14 points down in the fourth by hitting outside shots and feeding Roger Pogoy for a corner three that tied the count at 92-all with 31 seconds left.
“Kahit ilang days nga ang ganda pa din ng pinakita niya,” said Pogoy.
The rally ended in naught as Ginebra eked out a crucial win while denying TNT a chance to seal the first twice-to-beat quarterfinal incentive.
Parks missed a game-tying three at the buzzer, but his overall play left Dickel feeling confident that the KaTropa made the right move in shipping the improving Don Trollano, an injured Tony Semerad and a first round draft pick in 2021.
“I was happy with him,” Dickel said. “I thought he played good, especially in the endgame, I thought he gave us a chance to get back in the game and tie it up. I was happy with him.”
While Dickel has envisioned new things in the long run, Parks understands the need to know his role with TNT.
“Just getting to know the system more, when to get my shots and when not to,” Parks said. “It’s more of self-thing and trying to get everybody their shots, make their job easier because that’s what I wanna do for Roger, Troy (Rosario) and Kuya Jayson when he comes back because this is their team.
“I just wanna fit in, you know, help them out,” he added.
Making himself a good fit with a talented squad will be crucial, especially at this point of the PBA Governors’ Cup as TNT hopes to get back to winning ways following back-to-back defeats and boost its chances of a deep run come playoff time.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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