No days off for Ray Parks Jr. after SEA Games gold

Gold medals were still being celebrated back home, but for Ray Parks Jr. and several Gilas Pilipinas mainstays, the rhythm of professional basketball waited for no one.

Less than a full recovery cycle removed from Gilas’ triumphant run at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, Parks was already back in uniform for Osaka Evessa, logging meaningful minutes in a narrow 75-73 loss to the Sendai 89ers at Ookini Arena Maishima. There were no visible signs of fatigue from the veteran guard, who poured in 16 points while adding contributions across the board as Osaka slipped to a 10-15 record.

Parks’ quick turnaround set the tone for a busy Sunday for Filipino imports scattered across Japan’s top league — a reminder that international glory often blends seamlessly into the grind of club commitments.

In Nagoya, Francis Lopez continued to carve out his role with the Fighting Eagles, helping them edge the Diamond Dolphins, 87-83, at IG Arena. The former University of the Philippines standout delivered 15 points and six rebounds, a solid two-way showing that pushed Nagoya to an 11-14 slate and hinted at growing confidence in crunch moments.

Elsewhere, the results were less forgiving. Kiefer Ravena’s Yokohama B-Corsairs struggled to keep pace with the Saga Ballooners, absorbing a 90-74 defeat at Saga Arena. Ravena filled the stat sheet with 11 points, four assists, and three rebounds, but the loss dropped Yokohama further down the Eastern Division standings at 9-18.

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CURTAIN CALL IN THAILAND

Bobby Ray Parks Jr. marked a fitting finale to Gilas Pilipinas’ 2025 SEA Games campaign after the national team secured a gold medal victory over host Thailand.

: Bobby Ray Parks Jr. / IG#GMASports #SEAGames2025 pic.twitter.com/ipKH4N21W4

— GMA Sports (@gmasportsph) December 20, 2025

AJ Edu also found himself on the wrong end of a tough outing as the Gunma Crane Thunders fell to the Hiroshima Dragonflies, 83-76, at Openhouse Arena OTA. Edu came close to a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds, yet Gunma still slid to a 16-9 record in a tightly contested matchup.

Dwight Ramos, another pillar of Gilas’ recent success, battled through Levanga Hokkaido’s 84-80 loss to powerhouse Alvark Tokyo at Toyota Arena Tokyo. Ramos chipped in eight points and two rebounds, but Levanga’s defeat trimmed their season mark to 19-6.

While the scoreboard offered mixed outcomes, the bigger picture was unmistakable: the SEA Games glow did not slow the pace for Gilas’ B.League contingent. From packed arenas in Thailand to tightly contested games across Japan, the transition was immediate — a testament to the demands placed on modern-day national team players, and to their willingness to answer the call, no matter how short the turnaround.

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