IS another ‘Miller Time’ in the offing for Letran in Season 100 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament?
On Friday, the Knights unveiled Fil-Am guard Jace Miller and the 5-foot-10 player from Las Vegas responded by scoring 16 points and dishing out five assists in the team’s 70-62 win over Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers at the FilOil EcoOil Arena.
READ: Jimboy Estrada shines as Letran denies JRU to take first win
The 19-year-old Miller was referred to coach Allen Ricardo by his friends at Fil-Am Nation Select.
He had seen Miller play in Las Vegas and admitted taking a gamble on him.
“You know in college basketball, they’re disrupting, they’re pressing a lot. So kailangan malalim din yung bunot mo sa point,” said Ricardo, who lost top junior player Titing Manalili to injury prior to the season.
Miller admitted he’s aware about Letran once having a great player in the past named Willie Miller, the former Rookie of the Year in 1995 who went on and became one of the 40 Greatest Players in PBA history.
Willie Miller is also currently serving as the head coach of the Letran Squires.
He’s not related however, to the ‘Thriller’ nor to Willie’s son Dre, who’s currently playing for Arellano.
“Hindi naman kakulay di ba,” said Ricardo of Jace Miller.
Nonetheless, the Letran rookie is proud to be carrying the same surname.
“I’m just happy to represent the name and keep it on,” he said.
But Jace said he’s keen on carving his own niche at Letran and not just be remembered as another Miller or as a replacement for Manalili.
“There’s definitely a hole to fill but I’m going to do me, and I’m not Manalili. I’m going to play my game and try to find the best way to win,” he said.
So far, he feels right at home with the Knights.
“He (Ricardo) just made me feel that this is the place where I could be myself, play my game and thrive. And today is a great example of him trusting me and me not letting him down,” said Miller. “My teammates have been a great help adjusting and getting used to the way they’ve been playing here in the Philippines.”
Miller said his grandparents are from Ilocos, but unfortunately, he can’t speak and understand Filipino.
“But I’m learning,” he said with a boyish smile.
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