Sunday, July 27, 2008 · News

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With the Alaska Aces eliminated from the 2008 Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference Willie Miller has opted to bring his family home to Olongapo for an extended vacation to recharge his batteries.

Masakit na ma-eliminate ng ganoon kaaga, said Miller. Kaya umuwi na lang ako dito sa Olongapo one week after the close of the season for us. Ayaw ko na muna isipin ang basketball. Bakasyon na muna kami ng pamilya ko.

The 31-year-old shooting guard out of Letran College also has a condo unit in Mandaluyong but still calls Olongapo his home. After all that is where he and wife Kate were born and grew up.

Miller says that he wants to get away and not think about basketball at all for a while.

Wala nga akong computer o internet dito sa bahay ko sa Olongapo, said Miller in a long distance telephone interview. I will not even be able to surf the net for any PBA related news. Sayang nga lang hindi ko pa nakikita ang MTV ko na uploaded na sa Alaska Web site. Magugustuhan sigurado ng mga anak ko. Sila ang pumili ng song para doon sa MTV ko.

Former Letran coach Mollet Pineda was the first to spot the potential of Miller. Pineda brought Miller to Letran to join the Knights. In his first year he won the National Collegiate Athletic Association Rookie of the Year award.

At 22 years of age he became the cornerstone of the Nueva Ecija Pirates in the Metropolitan Basketball Association in 1999. He played two years in the MBA and was drafted by Red Bull as the first overall pick in the 2001 PBA Draft.

He led Red Bull to its first ever PBA title in 2002. The team won the Reinforced Conference. He continued his sterling play all the way to the All-Filipino Cup almost leading Red Bull to another finals berth. At season’s end, he was selected to the PBA Mythical Team and won the PBA Most Valuable Player Award.

Miller continued to play his usual outstanding game in 2003, making it to the Mythical Team for the second straight season. But in the 2004 offseason, Miller was traded by Red Bull to the Talk N’ Text Phone Pals. The transaction paved the way for a virtual powerhouse backcourt duo with Miller and 2003 Rookie of the Year Jimmy Alapag.

Up front the team had 2003 MVP Asi Taulava and veterans Vic Pablo, Mark Telan and rookie Harvey Carey.

During the 2004-05 PBA season, the Phone Pals played in two of the three finals contested during the transition year, with Miller playing a big role. However, losses to Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel denied Talk N Text a championship.

Despite his nice showing in 2006 he was shipped to the Alaska Aces in exchange for Don Allado. In his second year with the team he helped the Aces win the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference title and Miller won his second MVP award in the process.

Not surprisingly, he values the championship more than his MVP award.

Mas gusto ko yung mag champion kami kesa manalo ako ng MVP award, said Miller. MVP ka nga, pero lahat kayo malungkot dahil natalo kayo. Ayaw ko naman noon. Mas gusto ko syempre na masaya ang lahat.

Miller still has a lot of years to play in the PBA. But right now he is just relaxing in Olongapo and getting himself ready to chase another PBA title. Who knows it may come as soon as next season. Alaska could win its lucky 13th PBA title with the help of Miller who sports, what else? Number 13 on his jersey.