Parks returns with a bang as TNT mauls Terra Firma for a PH Cup lead

Bobby Ray Parks's return gave Talk 'N Text its much needed boost as they go top of the PBA Philippine Cup standings after their total domination of TerraFirma, 112-101 Tuesday evening at the AUF Arena in Angeles.

After sitting out their opener Sunday owing to his calf strain, Parks made his debut with a huge bomb as it led the Tropang Giga into yet another shooting masterclass for the second consecutive game in a row, hitting 17/44 from beyond the arc as a unit.

The former UAAP MVP followed up RR Pogoy's 45-point explosion in the opener by leading all scorers with 40 on an insanely efficient game, firing in an astronomical 7/10 from rainbow country to to set his PBA-best production, and completed his double-double by adding 11 rebounds.

Help for Parks came in the form of four other KaTropa in double figures, with Troy Rosario put up a 20-15 game, as Jayson Castro added 15, and JP Erram redeeming himself from last Sunday's ejection with a 14 point output as Pogoy was held to just eleven.

Reigning rookie of the year CJ Perez had 30 points on his bubble debut, with this year's top overall pick Roosevelt Adams being held to a measly seven for the Dyip who fell on their season opener.

TNT used a series of streaks in their one-sided rout of their victims, none bigger than their 18-2 blitz in the second that gave them the game's biggest lead at 20, 51-31 on a Rosario triple, en route to a 2-0 card as coach Bong Ravena now set its sights on Friday's titanic clash with reigning five-time All-Filipino champions San Miguel.

The scores:

Talk 'N Text 112 -- Parks 40, Rosario 20, Castro 15, Erram 14, Pogoy 11, Reyes 4, Enciso 3, De Leon 3, Vosotros 2, Semerad 0, Alejandro 0, Carey 0

TerraFirma 101 -- Perez 30, Khobuntin 16, Mccarthy 14, Calvo 14, Ramos 9, Adams 7, Camson 5, Celda 3, Faundo 2, Gabayni 1, Cahilig 0, Balagasay 0, Tiongson 0, Batiller 0

Quarter scores: 27-19, 56-43, 90-75, 112-101

PHOTO: PBA