Pain lingers as three missed free throws turn Willie Miller from hero to zero

WILLIE Miller recalled the three free-throw attempts that turned him from a hero to a zero as candidly as he could on Friday night.

"Matigas 'yung unang tira - adjust, Pangalawa short, pangatlo miss na naman," the Barako Bull veteran. "So wala eh, bobo yata talaga sa free throw. Wala tayo magagawa."

The hurt, though, is a lot deeper and is expected to linger.

Those three missed free throws in overtime became the turning point of a thrilling match against Talk 'N Text that eventually sent Barako tumbling to its sixth straight loss, 80-87, in the PBA Philippine Cup - a setback that Miller said he blames on himself.

"Oo, parati," Miller said when asked if he blamed himself for the loss. "Lagi 'yan pag may error ako fist quarter, second quarter, so pagkatapos ng game doon ko na naalala lahat.

"Mamaya yan sa bahay na naman 'yan pabalik-balik, magre-replay na naman sa utak ko 'yan."

Later, he actually had the chance to atone for the blunders when he gathered the loose ball after his own miss. He thought of going for the game-tying three-pointer but found an open JC Intal, whose own attempt from beyond the arc failed to hit the mark.

"Nung nakuha ko nga 'yung rebound sa free throw, gustung-gusto ko na itira eh," he said. "Sabi ko kailangan ko bumawi sa tatlong sablay. Kaso nakita ko si JC mas open sa akin so I have to give up yung extra pass.

"So 'yun pa rin 'yun 'yung pagka-miss ko sa tatlo 'yung asar sobra."

The good thing is, Barako Bull plunges back into action on Sunday against Meralco, and Miller can't wait for the chance to atone for the boo-boos.

"Buti nga kamo may game sa Sunday. Mamaya hanggang bukas lang na isipan to, so bukas pagkatapos sa practice and then after that so hopefully, makapag-adjust agad kami at makapag-prepare sa game against Meralco naman so ma-coveran agad.

"We need to win para maging masaya naman ang Pasko namin at least before Christmas eh on a winning note," Miller added.