Norman Black and Bobby Parks.
These two became household names among PBA imports and it wasn’t surprising that they were two of only a few reinforcements included in the league’s Hall of Fame.
Black was a two-time PBA Best Import, and at one time, averaged 50 points per game in one season. As an import, he won three championships—the 1982 Invitational Tournament and as playing coach/import in the 1988 Open Conference and Reinforced Conference.
He was one of only two imports to be feted Mr. 100-Percent Performance by the PBA, with the other being Sean Chambers.
From Andy Fields, to Billy Ray Bates, all the way to Michael Hackett, David Thirdkill, and Parks himself, name it, Black has had his fierce battles with these great reinforcements and through the test of time, that ‘Old Black Magic’ was able to hold the fort.
As great as he was as an import, Black was even greater as a head coach and one of his biggest discoveries was Parks.
“We just had a tryout at a gym in Los Angeles and in about three or four minutes, I knew Bobby Parks would be the import for me because he was spectacular,” Black told The Link Podcast. “That’s where we were able to recruit him.”
True enough, Parks was spectacular and in his first and only season playing for San Miguel Beer, he led the team to a championship in the 1987 Reinforced Conference.
Black would have teamed up with Parks the following season, but they are expected to exceed the height limit combined for imports. That left Parks to transfer to Formula Shell, where he teamed up with Derrick Rowland. Black, on the other hand, brought in Michael Phelps (not the many-time Olympic gold medalist), who led the squad to two titles.
Norman had a better team in San Miguel where he won a grand slam and a total of nine championships with the squad, certainly his best years in the PBA. Parks had his great moments as well with Shell, winning the Best Import award seven times and capturing two more championships with the franchise.
They were fierce rivals on the court, but good buddies off it.
More than three decades since they transcended the level of imports playing in the PBA, their sons—Ray Parks Jr., and Aaron Black—are reliving the great name printed at the back of their respective jerseys. Unlike their old men, these two players are local players as both Black and Parks got married to a Filipina.
Parks Jr., is a solid contender for the PBA Most Valuable Player award and in the best-of-seven championship series won by Barangay Ginebra, he was the leading contender for the derby. He was the third best scorer in the Bubble, averaging more than 20 points per game, but got injured right after the first game of the series.
The younger Black, on the other hand, was one of the key players of the Meralco Bolts, who were a few minutes away from reaching the championship round before they were ushered to the exit door via Scottie Thompson’s game-winning trey.
As a newcomer, Black, who plays a combo guard for his dad’s team, averaged 7.18 points per game and was one of the most consistent performers among rookies. He is a solid bet for the Rookie of the Year honors.
It’s interesting to see how Ray and Aaron were able to uphold the legacy of their great names. Whatever is going to happen, whether they will win the individual honors or not, both second generation players had certainly made their old men proud.
There will be many more battles ahead of them. More time to make their own mark.
The family legacy continues.
