Bobby Ray Parks Jr. of the National University Bulldogs is the UAAP Season 74 Most Valuable Player. Photo by Rem Zamora for abs-cbnNEWS.com.

MANILA, Philippines - Newly-crowned UAAP Season 74 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Bobby Ray Parks Jr. understands that there are people who are questioning whether or not he truly should be the league MVP.

Parks, the star of the National University (NU) Bulldogs, led the league in scoring with 20 points per game and had three 30-point games during the elimination rounds. He added 6.5 rebounds and finished with 66.64 statistical points.

The Bulldogs, however, did not make it to the Final 4, finishing with a 6-8 record - good for 5th in the league.

Parks, in the process, became the first MVP to come from a team that did not make it to the post-season.

"Well, that's all they can put out there, because they're critics, and that's what they do," Parks said about the debate regarding his award. "But if you look at it from an individual standpoint, you can't question it."

Parks said he knows about the criticisms, but does not pay attention to it.

"Let them do what they do and I just keep working hard. It actually pushes me to get better," Parks said. "Coming into next season, I have to get better and put on a show for everybody and prove, definitely, that I was named MVP for a reason."

More than statistics

The UAAP MVP is determined by statistical points, taking into account points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, along with turnovers, technical fouls and unsportsmanlike fouls. Fifteen bonus points are given for each game won.

"For me, it should not only be statistics. If that is the case, the MVP may come from a team that's in the lower bracket, because somebody will shine and will have more points and rebounds," said UAAP Commissioner Andy Jao.

"I consider a person, being an MVP if he can bring his team to winning," Jao added. "Not demeaning the abilities and capabilities of Bobby Parks Jr. He's going to be a good player, this is only his rookie year."

He adds that the 15 bonus points for each win can easily be overcome, especially if a player scores a lot of points.

"The 15 points is nothing. You can cancel out those 15 points you get as a bonus. Now, if the bonus is 40 points or 50 points, and none if you don't win, malaking bagay yun," the commissioner said.

Ateneo forward Nico Salva, who was named Finals MVP, agreed that statistics should not be the only consideration.

Ateneo's Greg Slaughter finished 2nd in the MVP race. Photo by Diana Moraleda.

"You should look beyond stats. (Look at) How the player leads his team, how he changes the game," Salva said.

Salva says his own teammate, Greg Slaughter, is also deserving of the award.

"Greg is a big part of this team. We finished 13-1. I have nothing against NU, but they didn't make the Final 4," Salva said.

In the interview after the UAAP Finals Game 2, Ateneo mentor Norman Black also said that Slaughter was their MVP.

"I know Ray-Ray Parks won the MVP today, but for us, Greg is our MVP. He may not have the monster numbers of some of the other players, but he attracts so much attention, he really makes his teammates better," Black said.

Slaughter was 2nd in the MVP race, with averages of 13.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He finished with 63.35 statistical points.

Parks, however, said Slaughter is sharing the load with another talented rookie, Kiefer Ravena.

"If you take out Greg Slaughter or Kiefer Ravena from Ateneo, they'll still be a great team. But if you take me out from the Bulldogs, it's gonna hurt a lot," he said.

Waiting for next year

Junel Baculi, NU's athletic director, said the goal of the Bulldogs is to make it to the Final 4, but Parks' MVP award is a good consolation prize.

"It's a process. We were in the process of working on the Final 4 stint. Unfortunately, we fell one rung lower, but in the process, (Parks) got the MVP award. It's consolation enough for us," Baculi said.

Parks will get another chance to bring the Bulldogs into the Final 4 next season.

"We haven't had that since time immemorial," Baculi said. "So, hopefully, we can get there next year."

He added the NU community and their partners in the SM Group are very proud of what Parks was able to accomplish.

"It brings us at par in sports with the other schools. We've always been down there, kami lagi ang whipping boys. Now, we're competing with the other schools," Baculi said.

"Next year, I'm gonna push myself and the team to make it to the Final 4," Parks said. "But I'm not doing it for them (critics). I'm doing it for us."