MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball community lost a great man on Black Saturday when Bobby Parks, Sr. succumbed to lung cancer that stemmed from his previous cancer of the throat. The 51-year old PBA Hall of Famer died beside his family at San Juan de Dios Hospital.
Parks, Sr., who was a seven-time Best Import in the Philippine Basketball Association while playing for San Miguel and Formula Shell, was fighting the 'Big C' since 2008.
He was inducted to the PBA Hall of Fame in 2009 and has since settled in the Philippines the year after when he accepted the National University's offer as its assistant athletic director. He brought along his son Bobby Ray, Jr. with him in NU that signaled the rise of the former UAAP whipping boys to prominence.
In 2011, he was tapped by San Miguel Corporation to handle its Asean Basketball League team and led the Beermen to the Finals in their inaugural season. He later stepped down after the relapse of his illness.