MICHAEL Miranda doesn't mind engaging in physical plays. But he still cried foul over a hit by Blackwater big man Poy Erram.
The NLEX bruiser shrugged off the bloody cut above his left eye which was caused by an Eram elbow, but expressed disappointment that his Blackwater counterpart had to resort to such tactics.
"Sa basketball hindi naman maiiwasan yang ganyan na mga pisikalan," said Miranda when SPIN.ph caught up with him during the official presentation of Team NLEX and its new logo on Monday night in Balintawak.
"Siguro napikon na siya kaya ganun," he added. "Pero siyempre hindi mo rin maalis na magalit sa ginawa niya."
The altercation between the two happened during last week's tune-up game pitting the Elite against the Road Warriors. The two were ejected in the third quarter of the match which NLEX won, 90-88.
Miranda, a former San Sebastian stalwart, was left nursing a three-inch cut above his left eyebrow, which was covered with bandage during the NLEX event.
Miranda said he hasn't heard from Eram, although in an earlier story run by SPIN.ph, the lanky center from Ateneo bared he sent an apology through NLEX players Kiefer Ravena and Eman Monfort, both former college teammates at Ateneo.
His willingness to bang bodies and play physical should earn him the trust of coach Yeng Guiao, who likes his players tough.
The 6-foot-6 Miranda stressed he's just doing what is asked of him.
"Sa akin naman kahit kaninong coach ako maglaro, basta gagawin ko yung best ko at kung ano ang maitutulong ko sa team," he said.
And this early, Miranda already likes playing under Guiao.
"Hindi naman ako nahirapan mag-adjust sa sistema niya. Actually sobrang sarap maglaro sa kanya kasi basic lang 'yung gusto niya," said the bruising big man who NLEX acquired from Phoenix.
"Basta sundin mo lang ung pinagagawa niya sa iyo, wala kang magiging problema."
In his more than a month with NLEX, Miranda has yet to earn the ire of a coach known for his fiery temper.
Still, he knows that would be inevitable.
"Darating din siguro tayo diyan," he said laughing.
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