Ricky Vargas slams ‘dishonest’ Ray Parks: ‘I’m sure no team will be interested in him’

TNT governor Ricky Vargas is still incensed over the apparent dishonesty of Fil-Am guard Bobby Ray Parks Jr.

The 28-year old son of legendary PBA import Bobby Ray Parks told team officials that he was in the United States during the negotiation period but a recent photo showed him and a companion on a beach somewhere La Union. He eventually announced his decision to skip the upcoming season due to personal reasons and has kept himself scarce since then.

Vargas, who was just recently re-elected as PBA chairman for a record 4th consecutive season, disclosed that the team is willing to keep Parks in the freezer for as long as it takes in order to teach him a lesson.

“I challenge him (Parks) to offer his services to the other (PBA) teams and see for himself if he can land a job. I’m sure no team will be interested in him considering the way he conducts himself,” said Vargas during an interview with the Inquirer over the phone.

Vargas added that Parks was given a formal offer of two years, “super maximum” deal which was also forwarded to the Commissioner’s office. Under league rules, the maximum amount a team can offer a player is P420,000 per month. But that figure could balloon further once bonuses, incentives and other perks are taken into account – something that the team is also willing to give the 3-time ABL Local MVP.

With the issue far from being resolved, Vargas remained firm on the team’s stand.

“He will not be traded because he doesn’t have TNT’s consent for a trade,” said the former chief of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The Tropang Giga, now handled by returning head coach Chot Reyes, was actually looking to build the team around the prolific Fil-Am. Those plans, however, were thrown into disarray after Parks begged off.

The team has since moved on. They acquired the 4th overall pick from sister team NLEX and drafted Mikey Williams to take over the role that was originally reserved for the 2nd overall pick of the 2018 draft.