Back home in the Philippines after another season in Japan's B.League, Ray Parks Jr. is putting his full focus on his family and the preparations for his wedding with fiancée Zeinab Harake.
Parks and Harake announced their engagement in July 2024, and the popular YouTuber said in March that they plan to get married "within the year."
READ: Newly engaged Zeinab Harake, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. share wedding plans
READ: Zeinab Harake, Ray Parks Jr set to wed 'within the year'
"Things are almost there. Almost there," Parks said of their wedding preparations, Thursday at a mall in Quezon City. "There's a lot of planning involved, a lot of just trying to iron things out."
"It's just good that I'm here now, that we can focus on it together," he added. "[I'm] definitely excited. Super excited."
Parks is coming off his fourth year of professional basketball in Japan, where he averaged 13.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game for the Osaka Evessa. Unfortunately, the squad missed the playoffs with a 29-31 win-loss record.
The veteran was tight-lipped when asked about his future and goals for the upcoming B.League season. "They haven't announced me signing or anything like that yet, right? I think we're still up on negotiations," said Parks.
"I can't just announce certain things for next year. It's still up in the air. Right now, I'm just focused on my family and got big things coming up," he said.
Ray Parks Jr of the Osaka Evessa. (c) B.LEAGUE
The former two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player conducted a basketball clinic for young players on Thursday, with his son Lucas among the participants in the camp that was organized by the B.League.
The "B. Hope Asia Junior Clinic" is the B.League's first offering in a four-day stretch to highlight its upcoming Finals, set for Saturday and Sunday with the Utsunomiya Brex and the Ryukyu Golden Kings contesting the championship.
As one of eight Filipinos seeing action in Japan, Parks says he is "really grateful" that the B.League continues to provide players with the opportunity to go beyond the borders of their home country.
"Our league here is very talented, but you gotta give it to the B.League. You see what they're doing in FIBA, so they're doing something right," said Parks. "They have a formula, and they're giving equal opportunities to everybody."
"I'm really grateful for the B.League for that, and it's good for the upcoming, next generation, so that they can travel and see Japan, see other countries. Really, it's beautiful. The game of basketball is international," he added.
On Friday, the B.League will host a 3x3 challenge with Matthew Wright of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders as the special guest. There will be viewing parties of the finals on Saturday and Sunday; Dwight Ramos, who plays for Levanga Hokkaido, will be there on Saturday while Kiefer Ravena of the Yokohama B-Corsairs will be the special guest on Sunday.
All events will take place in Gateway 2.