ALMOST three decades later, another Miller will be attempting to take the NCAA by storm.
Arellano parades rookie guard Will Alexander ‘Dre’ Miller for Season 100 of the league after landing the son of former two-time PBA MVP Willie Miller during the offseason.
The young Miller suited up for FEU-Diliman last year before opting to join the Chiefs, who are in need of a two-way guard for their coming campaign.
Actually, Dre had been on the radar of Arellano coach Chico Manabat while he was still playing for the Baby Tamaraws.
Being a close friend of the 47-year-old Miller, Manabat had long been querying about the plans of the four-time PBA champion for his talented son.
“Ang sabi niya, yung bata na ang bahalang mamili kung saan niya gusto,” said the Chiefs mentor.
Not long after, the younger Miller joined one of Arellano's practices and immediately established a connection with the Chiefs.
“Luckily, kailangan talaga namin ng guards. So yung bata, pagka-practice, sabi niya, gusto niya na sa Arellano,” Manabat added.
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Miller’s NCAA entry comes almost three decades since his well-known father became a star in the country’s oldest collegiate league playing for Letran and eventually, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1995.
Asked to compare father and son, Manabat said Dre is still a diamond in the rough.
“Parehas sila ng genes. Siyempre, Miller' yan, e. Athleticism, ok,” said Manabat.
“Para rin siyang tatay niya. Medyo maliit nga lang, pero soon, magiging star ito sa NCAA,” he added.
To be fair to the kid, Manabat said Dre proved himself in training to earn his spot in Arellano.
“He proved so much - yung sarili niya, yung work ethic niya, kung paano siya mag-buy in and mag-blend sa team, nandoon,” said the tactician entering his second season in Legarda.
Manabat remains grateful to the elder Miller, now a deputy coach at Converge, for entrusting the career of his son to him and the Chiefs program.
“Yung trust niya sa akin at sa program ng Arellano, nandoon, kaya malaking pasasalamat ko sa kanya,” he said.
Miller vs. Miller
Interestingly as well, Dre's rookie season will coincide with his dad's first year as assistant coach for Letran's Seniors squad and shot-caller for its Juniors team.
Alongside his duties with the FiberXers, Willie will now serve as lieutenant to Allen Ricardo as they hope to get their alma mater and its Knights back on track following a 2-14 campaign last year.
READ: Familiar faces Ricardo, Beltrano chart a new path for Letran Knights
The Chiefs sported the same slate last season, and that shines brighter a spotlight when Miller meets Miller for the first time on September 17 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
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