MARK PARKS GRINDING TO GET SOMETHING KUYA RAY DIDN'T IN UAAP

WHEN it comes to legacy surnames in collegiate basketball, very few are on the same level as National U’s Mark Parks.

Not only is he the son of three-time PBA champion Bobby Parks, he is also the younger brother of Ray Parks, who breathed life back into Jhocson some 13 seasons ago.

But while he has yet to achieve Ray’s highs like back-to-back UAAP MVP awards, Mark is slowly making a name for himself as one of the Bulldogs' ever-reliable tools off the bench.

In general, 4.18 points, 1.55 rebounds, and nearly a steal a game are far from eye-popping stats.

However, the younger Parks has almost always been a net positive on the team, with arguably his best performance yet coming against ever-disruptive Adamson.

With the Bulldogs barking and battling back in the fourth quarter, the two-way wing delivered the game-tying layup with 16 seconds left before calmly swishing the bonus that proved to be the difference in their 66-65 win.

READ: Mark Parks saves the day as NU books UAAP S88 semifinals seat

Parks finished with 10 points, three rebounds, two steals, and not a single turnover in sight to flank skipper Jake Figueroa’s 13 markers.

And with that, the versatile wing out of Memphis, Tennessee got a taste of the heroics kuya Ray once made into a habit back in his days with NU.

Still, Mark made it clear his older brother always reminds him that they may share the same name, but the story is theirs and theirs alone to make.

"We talk all the time, and he knows that I'm a different person, and he's a different person as well," he shared

"I'm just trying to create my own legacy, he has his. So he just told me to be myself and just be the best I can be."

Making his own Mark

Though the the blue-and-gold's ninth win officially booked them a ticket to the Final Four, head coach Jeff Napa still saw their victory to be too close for comfort, as they had to have a key reserve come to their rescue.

"At least, yung tinatrabaho ni Mark, unti-unti nare-recognize. I'm happy for our team, pero hindi ako natuwa dito sa game na ito," said Napa.

"Yung level up of our game coming to the last stretch of the second round is very crucial for us. Dito mare-recognize kung ano ba talaga kami."

And even after his game-winner, Parks himself echoed those sentiments, saying, "Yeah, I'm just thankful for my teammates that stepped up. But we still have a lot of work to do."

While there’s no telling if Mark will rise to the level of top dog just like his brother, the challenge imparted by Ray while wearing the blue-and-gold will continue to be his North Star.

"He just told me to be myself and just be the best I can be. So I just try to step up to that challenge. Whatever coaches or the players give me, and I'll just do that," he said.

2025-11-09T10:15:09Z