MVPs share high hopes for RP five

MANILA, Philippines - Two former PBA MVPs -- Willie Miller and JamesYap - are looking forward to playing in the FIBA-Asia tournament in Tianjin on Aug. 6-16 with high hopes of qualifying for the World Championships in Turkey next year.

The road to Tianjin will pass through Medan where the top two finishers of the SEABA Championships in June advance to the 16-team FIBA-Asia conclave. So far, countries assured of tickets to Tianjin are host China, Kuwait and Qatar from the Gulf zone, Kazakhstan and India from Middle Asia and Jordan from West Asia. Still to be filled are two slots for East Asia, two for the Gulf, two for Middle Asia, two for Southeast Asia and two for West Asia.

Expected to crowd the Philippines in the SEABA joust are host Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

While the Philippines is expected to dominate in Medan, Powerade national team coach Yeng Guiao isn’t taking any chances. A proposal for Serbian coach Rajko Toroman’s Smart Gilas national team to represent the country in Medan instead of Guiao’s squad was turned down by the PBA because it was too risky to flirt with the outside possibility of failing to qualify for Tianjin.

China’s 7-6 center Yao Ming is expected to play for China in the FIBA-Asia Championships and Miller, the PBA MVP in 2002 and 2007, said he can’t wait to pose with the Houston Rockets star. Miller, who’s 5-10, will probably reach up to anywhere between Yao’s chest and waist.

“I’ll get a picture with Yao before I start thinking how to sneak my layup in past his defense,” said Miller. “We’re very excited to play. Our tune-up games will help us see where the team is right now.”

Miller, 31, is familiar with Guiao’s system as like Mick Pennisi, Cyrus Baguio, Kerby Raymundo and Arwind Santos, he’s played for the Burger King coach in the PBA.

Although Miller wasn’t productive in the Philippines’ recent two-game series against the Great White Sharks of Australia, it was clear he had Guiao’s trust. Miller was on the floor when the second game ended in overtime.

“Willie never hesitated to shoot because that’s coach Yeng’s philosophy,” said PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios. “He had good looks but unfortunately, his shots didn’t fall. That’s fine. Willie has coach Yeng’s confidence. In coach Yeng’s system, anyone who’s open and in position to shoot shouldn’t hesitate to go for it. Eventually, Willie will find his range. He’s always a threat.”

In the two-game series, Miller shot only 2-of-14, including 0-of-4 from the arc. But he collected 10 rebounds and seven assists.

As for Yap, the 2006 MVP said he wants to taste the championship feeling again – 10 years after playing on a PBL junior All-Star team that won the Nike Invitationals in Taipei. Yap was only 17 then.

In 1999, Yap led the PBL juniors to the title over Montrose Christian High School of Rockville, New Jersey, the Chinese-American squad Alpine Striders of Los Angeles, Higashiyama High of Tokyo, Whimoon High of Seoul and three Taipei All-Star squads. Yap averaged 16.3 points and hit 7-of-11 triples in the tournament. His teammates included Paul Artadi, Jerwin Gaco, Erick Arejola, Ronnie Zagala and Rey Mendoza. Coach was Jorge Gallent assisted by Luigi Trillo and trainer Raymond Gavieres.

“It’s a great honor to play for our country,” said Yap. “I felt very proud when we won in Taipei in 1999 because it was for our country. Now, we can do it again. We’re working very hard at practice. Coach Yeng wants us to be comfortable with each other and have fun playing. Our practices are hard but enjoyable. Coach Yeng is very focused. He knows what it takes to win.”

In the first game against Australia, Yap compiled 11 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes. He hit 5-of-10 from the floor, including 1-of-4 triples. In the rematch, Yap netted four points on 1-of-7 field goals, including 0-of-5 from the arc, and 2-of-2 free throws in 15 minutes.

The only other PBA MVPs in Guiao’s roster are Kelly Williams (2008) and Asi Taulava (2003).