FROM an unrestricted free agent, Mike Nieto now has a shot at winning his first-ever PBA championship - and possibly be part of history.
Nieto will be playing in his first best-of-seven title series with TNT, which clinched the first finals berth in the season-ending Philippine Cup after finishing off Rain or Shine in six games in their semifinals playoff.
‘Big Mike’ was a free-agent pickup for the Tropang 5G midway through the all-Filipino conference, just when the team began losing guards Rey Nambatac and rookie Jeilo Razon to injuries.
READ Here's how TNT got its hands on Converge's Mike Nieto
The guard out of Ateneo was initially included in the Jordan Heading for Mikey Williams deal, but was later left out when Converge and TNT agreed to pursue just a one-on-one trade involving the two Fil-foreign players.
Instead, Nieto was relegated to the unrestricted free agent list (with rights to salary) while he was recovering from a fractured finger which he suffered prior to the start of the season's third and final conference.
That was when the Tropang 5G took an interest in him.
More than a month since coming on board, Nieto is now just four wins from being called a champion.
“I’m really grateful kina coach Chot [Reyes] and to the TNT management. Really humbled na kinuha nila ako sa team,” said Nieto after the team made it to the conference finals for the third straight time this season.
“I won’t take it for granted. Really grateful sa tiwala nila sa akin, and also kay Jordan (Heading) kasi pinagkatiwalaan nila kami na makakatulong sa team.”
Nieto has been a solid backup guard for TNT, averaging close to 10 minutes of playing per game and norming 2.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in six games in the semis.
Nieto thanks his lucky stars
He admitted not expecting not to be in this position just months ago.
“Hindi talaga. Actually nagpapagaling lang ako sa fractured finger ko before, and tapos suddenly eto na ngayon,” said Nieto.
But everything is not going to be a bed of roses for a TNT side that is seeking history of becoming the first team to complete a season sweep after the Purefoods franchise last did it in 2014.
The Tropang 5G are going to face the winner of the sudden-death Game 7 between the top-seeded San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra Kings on Wednesday.
“Kaya I’ll do whatever it takes para matulungan yung TNT na manalo starting in Game 1,” said Nieto. “But really thankful na binigyan ako ng chance na umabot ng finals.”
Incidentally, Mike’s father, Jet Nieto was a teammate of Chot’s brother Jun Reyes at Ateneo, and together the two made history for the Blue Eagles after steering the school to its first back-to-back UAAP men’s basketball championships in 1987 and 1988.
Now 37 years later, will a Reyes-Nieto partnership achieve history again this time with TNT?
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