Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — “He’s going to have to work hard to prove that he belongs”, said Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban of Filipino Bobby Ray Parks.
In his debut appearance at the National Basketball Association (NBA) Summer League, the Filipino cager had a lackluster outing after logging in only three minutes of action and registering one turnover and one foul.
In a report by SB Nation Mavs Moneyball writer Kirk Henderson, Cuban said that the former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) MVP suffered from nerves in his debut, owing it to the Filipino supporters who came out to Vegas.
“You could tell that [Parks] was really, really nervous,” said Cuban, “He had some fellow countrymen there and that made him a little bit more nervous.”
Filipino love
The Filipino’s affection for Basketball isn’t lost on Cuban, who says that he is fully aware of what the sport means for the entire archipelago.
“We talk about loving basketball in the United States but there is no country more basketball crazy than the Philippines,” said Cuban. “I’d love to see more Filipino players. I really, really, would.”
Cuban even declared that he wishes to be the number one team in the hearts of the Filipinos.
“I would love to be the team of the Philippines,” said Cuban.
A fighting chance
Despite the limited minutes, Cuban has seen enough of Parks to say that he is an NBA quality player.
“He’s got to improve, there’s no question about it,” said Cuban. “But he’s here and showed he belongs and he’s got a chance.”
