OF the dozens of NBA players who arrived in the country the past few weeks, the one star that Petron import Elijah Millsap would've wanted to come over was Paul Millsap of the Atlanta Hawks.
The younger Millsap said it would be a great experience to have big brother fly over to this basketball-crazy country and watch him and the Boosters chase the championship of the PBA Governors' Cup opposite the San Mig Coffee Mixers.
Unfortunately, with the 2013-14 season of the NBA set to open next week, it’s understandable the former Utah Jazz stalwart won’t be able to make it.
“But if his schedule would allow him, I know he’ll be here for me,” Millsap bared to Spin.ph.
For sure, the NBA star who signed a two-year contract worth US$19 million with the Hawks as a free agent during the off season, would have been very proud of what his younger sibling has so far done in his first stint in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league.
The 6-foot-6 Elijah showed the stuff he’s made of on Wednesday night when he simply refused to lose and willed the Boosters to a 99-88 Game Six win over the Mixers before a crowd of 15,018 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Petron import scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter when he almost singlehandedly carried the team on his shoulders at the height of San Mig Coffee’s searing scoring binge.
“In crunch time, Elijah proved he’s a leader,” said coach Gee Abanilla in paying tribute to his prized reinforcement.
Millsap added eight rebounds, six assists, and was 3-of-4 from three-point range.
Paul would have been happy with the way his brother is playing, but the feeling is mutual.
“He’s doing great. He worked hard during the summer as he wants to be a better player at Atlanta,” he said of his brother. “He’s pretty excited to be in Atlanta. He has moved all of his stuff from Utah.”
And while the brothers may be miles apart, Paul makes sure he keeps track of Elijah’s playing career.
“He keeps tab of what I’m doing here. He’s not been able to watch, but I’m pretty sure my mom lets him know everything I’ve done,” he said.
And hopefully, that includes winning a first-ever PBA championship.
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