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Tag: Willie Miller

  • Willie Miller confident Mikey Williams will regain form with Converge despite slow start

    Willie Miller confident Mikey Williams will regain form with Converge despite slow start

    Patience will be key for Converge as it integrates Mikey Williams into its backcourt rotation for the upcoming PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

     

    Deputy coach Willie Miller admitted that the Filipino-American guard is still working his way back into peak condition, but he remains confident that the former TNT star will rediscover the form that once made him one of the league’s most feared scorers.

     

    Williams only recently returned to the Philippines after spending time in the United States, and while he has already joined the FiberXers in practice, Miller said there are still a few adjustments needed before the explosive guard reaches full rhythm.

     

    “Yung shooting niya andun pa rin. Hindi pa rin nawala,” noted the two-time MVP.

     

    “Tingin ko yung timing lang talaga ang kulang pa sa kanya.”

     

    Miller, who is responsible for overseeing Converge’s guards, made it clear that getting Williams back into game-ready shape is now part of his responsibilities with the team.

     

    “Sa mga guard ako ang assigned. Sa big men, si DI (Danny Ildefonso) diyan,” said the former Letran standout, referring to fellow assistant coach Danny Ildefonso.

     

    “Ikukundisyon natin yan,” he added.

     

    Williams arrived in the country last week and wasted little time reconnecting with his new squad, attending practice just a day or two after landing.

     

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    The prolific guard joined Converge through a blockbuster trade last year that sent Jordan Heading to TNT, ending Williams’ previous chapter with the Tropang Giga where he played a major role in winning two PBA championships.

     

    Although he has been away from competitive basketball in the league, Miller shared that Williams stayed active while in the US.

     

    “Nagpapa-kundisyon naman siya sa US. Madalas din daw siyang maglaro sa mga pick up games. Minsan may mga former NBA players pa siyang nakakalaro,” Miller shared.

     

    “Pero siyempre, iba pa rin talaga yung competitive games.”

     

    Beyond Williams’ individual preparation, Converge also faces another challenge — blending a roster packed with talent.

     

    The FiberXers feature a star-studded lineup that includes Williams, Juan Gomez De Liano, Alec Stockton, Kurt Reyson, MJ Garcia, Archie Concepcion, Calvin Abueva, Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, and Jonnel Policarpio, along with towering 7-foot import Kylor Kelley.

     

    For Miller, the key will be building chemistry so the team can maximize its depth without sacrificing offensive flow.

     

    “Sabi nga ni Gov (coach Delta Pineda) good problem yan. In time, pag nakuha na yung chemistry ng team, tingin ko hindi naman yan magiging problema,” he said.

     

    Miller pointed out that powerhouse teams like San Miguel Beer, TNT, and Barangay Ginebra have managed to succeed despite having multiple stars sharing the floor.

     

    If the FiberXers can find that same balance, Converge may soon become one of the most dangerous teams in the conference.

     

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  • PBA legends Arwind Santos, Willie Miller, Marc Pingris, Ranidel De Ocampo to spice up Rookies-Sophomores vs Juniors game

    PBA legends Arwind Santos, Willie Miller, Marc Pingris, Ranidel De Ocampo to spice up Rookies-Sophomores vs Juniors game

    The PBA’s rising stars won’t be the only attraction in Friday’s Rookies and Sophomores vs. Juniors showcase.

     

    Four of the league’s most recognizable veterans — Arwind Santos, Willie Miller, Marc Pingris, and Ranidel De Ocampo — are set to step back onto the court to add a nostalgic twist to the All-Star weekend event.

     

    Former MVPs Santos and Miller will suit up for the Rookies and Sophomores side, while Pingris and De Ocampo will reinforce the Juniors squad in a matchup that already features some of the PBA’s brightest young talents from their first three seasons in the league.

     

    Their participation forms part of the PBA’s 50th anniversary celebration, with commissioner Willie Marcial opting to blend past and present after plans for a full legends matchup proved difficult to organize.

     

    “Pinaplano namin talaga kasi 50th anniversary, papalaruin sila, two teams ng legends. ‘Yung iba, hindi magkasundo sa schedule so nahihirapan kami. Sinabi ko, magsama tayo kahit apat. Gusto ko nga tig-apat. Nahihirapan din talaga sa schedules,” said Marcial during Thursday’s press conference at the Hotel Van Gogh.

     

    “Buti napagbigyan ako ng apat na legends. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila,” he added.

     

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    The inclusion of the veterans gives fans a rare chance to see some of the league’s former superstars share the floor with the new generation.

     

    Miller, who captured the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2002 and 2007, and Santos, the 2013 MVP, are expected to provide leadership — and perhaps a few flashes of their old brilliance — while competing alongside the league’s young standouts.

     

    De Ocampo, now serving as an assistant coach for TNT, will find himself back in uniform and even sharing the floor with some familiar faces from the Tropang 5G organization.

     

    “’Yung coach din namin sa TNT,” said the 44-year-old De Ocampo, referring to Chot Reyes’ lieutenants Sandy Arespachochaga and Yuri Escueta. “Excited kami.”

     

    For Miller, the exhibition may be labeled as fun basketball, but he admits the competitive spirit that defined his playing days will still be there once the game tips off.

     

    “When it comes to basketball, competitive. Kahit fun basketball, Pilipino tayo, ayaw natin magpatalo diba. Pag jumpball, iba na ‘yung mentality,” said the 48-year-old Miller.

     

    The appearance of the four legends is expected to add extra energy to the contest, blending nostalgia with the promise of the PBA’s next generation as the league continues its golden anniversary celebration.

     

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