PBA: League names Best Import Award in Parks' honor

PBA commissioner Chito Salud has moved to christen the league's Best Import Award as the Bobby Parks Best Import Award, to honor the late seven-time awardee of that prize, the league confirmed Sunday.

[Related: Legendary import Bobby Parks Sr. passes away]

Parks had passed away Saturday due to complications stemming from his bout with laryngeal cancer.

Comm. Chito Salud on Bobby Parks' passing: Bobby Parks, a seven time PBA best import awardee, epitomized (cont) tl.gd/n_1rjgsjq

— pbaconnect (@pbaconnect) March 31, 2013

Said Salud, in a statement released via the league's official Twitter account, "Bobby Parks, a seven time PBA best import awardee, epitomized everything we could hope for an import: highly skilled, hard working, respectful of host country rules and sensibilities and a perfect gentleman on and off the court.

"I therefore cannot think of a better import and human being after which to name the best import award (Bobby Parks Best Import Award), both to honor Bobby's immense contribution to PBA as well as to serve as a shining example and inspiration to all imports who play in our shores."

In response to twitter clamor, My text to Com Salud: 'Maybe d PBA can name d Best Import Award as d "Bobby Parks Trophy".

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) March 30, 2013

The idea to rename the award in honor of Parks actually came from fans online. National team head coach Chot Reyes then, "in response to Twitter clamor," passed along the suggestion to Salud.  - AMD, GMA News