Meet the Ming Ming Brothers
Silent Sanctuary blasted on speakers inside Room 23 of the Montana Hotel and Spa, Terrence Romeo walked out of the patio to see what everyone else was doing.
“Sa’yo yan Ter?” I asked. “Di kuya. Si Ray nagpapatugtog niyan.” he replied.
Bobby Ray Parks Jr. is apparently a Silent Sanctuary fan. He didn’t seem like the type.
Parks grew up in the Philippines, spent most of his life in Manila, played for the National University, and suited up for the country in international basketball competitions. Yet, it seems easy for one to assume that he doesn’t listen to OPM. Maybe because of how he looks, it’s easier to assume he likes hip hop and R&B.
If it was Calvin Abueva or Jayson Castro whose fathers are also African-American, we would have totally understood but with Parks, there seems to be a disconnect.
“Na-bless ako na nandito kayo kasi you’re giving me a chance to show a side of me na I don’t show to a lot of people naman talaga,” Parks told me as he sat down for an interview.
“I keep to myself most of the time. But being in the Gilas program, mas nakikilala ako ng mga tao. Hindi in the sense na feeling ko mas sisikat ako, but they’ll really get to know more about me as a person na hindi naman ako yung mayabang na Amboy yung dating. Oo, outside appearance Amboy nga pero puso ko Pinoy talaga.”
Alongside Ryan Reyes, Parks is the only player in the 14-man pool who has not been a part of Gilas before. As the only guy not in the PBA, he is in a unique situation.
“Kinausap ko si coach Tab (Baldwin) bago pa ako umuwi. Our conversation went well kaya ako nagdecide na umuwi na ng mas maaga,” Parks said. “Iba talaga pag Pilipinas yung jersey na suot mo. Parang hindi na lang sarili mo o yung team mo yung pinaglalaban mo e.”
Parks cherishes the opportunity to get to know his teammates. Here in Karpenisi, they’re the only ones in the hotel aside from a local basketball team. If they’re not training, eating, or sleeping, they’re busy bonding with each other.
“It’s important that you get the opportunity to know them more outside the basketball court,” Parks said. “If you get to know them, more personal siya e. That’s where you build trust and it translates sa court. Pag nakikita mo yung passion nila and kung bakit ba sila naglalaro, ano yung motive nila, lumalaki talaga yung tiwala sa isa’t isa.”
Although Parks makes it a point to get to know all of his teammates, he’s been particularly close with his roommate Romeo. They were not supposed to be roomed together here but that few weeks that Parks spent with Gilas drew him closer to his former UAAP competitor.
Parks and Romeo were two of the earliest to show up at the airport for the flight to Greece so they ended up talking a lot. Talk that gave birth to the Ming Ming Brothers.
What does that mean, you ask?
“Magandang tanong yan,” Parks said with a short laugh. “Nasa Pilipinas kami nun. Kami ni Terrence, nag-uusap lang kami, reminisce about the UAAP days. Nagkukwentuhan lang kami tapos biglang napasok sa usapang sina Babalu at Redford White. Yung isang skit nila, sina-start ni Babalu yung kotse tapos yung sound “ming-ming-ming-ming” so yun. doon na nabuo yung Ming Ming Brothers.”
Babalu & Redford White (Ming!-Ming!-Ming! Scene):
source: http://www.tv5.com.ph
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