Parks Jr.’s early explosion helps Nagoya clinch Japan B. League opening win

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipino basketball superstar Bobby Ray Parks Jr. kicked off his 2022 Japan B. League campaign with a huge win after leading the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins against the Seahorses Mikawa, 101-86.

It was Parks Jr. who set the tone early in the game after going unconscious from the three-point line in just the first half.

The hefty leftie shooting guard dropped 11 points in the first two quarters and fired three of his five attempts from downtown, sparking Nagoya’s offense that spearheaded a much-needed offensive run in the second quarter.

After Parks Jr.’s offensive eruption midway in the second frame, Nagoya suddenly ballooned its lead to 17 points, 50-33, courtesy of his made three-point bomb with 54 seconds left.

It was then all Nagoya in the second half as the Dolphins picked up where they left off in the first half and continued to pour in the offense.

Mikawa got close to as much as 10 points, 67-57, with 3:08 remaining in the third quarter but a counter-run from Nagoya extended their lead to 21 points, 100-79.

The Gilas Pilipinas staple finished his 2022 B. League season debut in style with 14 total points, four assists, one rebound, and one steal.

Parks Jr. only missed three attempts the whole game and went for an efficient 5/8 performance from the shooting field.

Coty Clarke top-scored for the Diamond Dolphins with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists while Maurice Ndour chipped in 16 points.

Parks Jr. and the Dolphins will seek to hand the Seahorses a sweeping loss as they meet each other again today at 2:05 PM (Philippine time).