Miller airs desire to play for Gilas

MANILA, Philippines — Converge import Quincy Miller has offered himself as a potential naturalization option for Gilas Pilipinas.

The 29-year-old Miller, who has led the streaking FiberXers to a 5-2 record in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, made known his desire to suit up for Gilas someday in a recent social media post.

“I wanna play on the national team,” he wrote on his Instagram story along with a Philippine flag emoji.

The former NBA player later explained it would be an honor to be able to represent the country, which he has learned to love and respect.

“It would probably be the biggest thing in my career,” Miller said on CNN Philippines’ Sports Desk program yesterday.

“This is something I want to do and it would be an honor for me. If it happens, it happens; if it doesn’t (it’s fine). But (if ever) it would be the greatest thing that I did in a long time,” he added.

The 6-foot-10 Miller averages 32.43 points, 16.71 rebounds, 3.57 assists and 3.43 blocks in his maiden PBA stint.

His pronouncements come at a time Gilas is looking at expanding its naturalization player pool.

Fil-Am NBA star Jordan Clarkson banners the pool, which currently has Ivorian-born Ange Kouame on call even as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is working to get the ball rolling on the targeted naturalization of Barangay Ginebra’s resident reinforcement Justin Brownlee and TNT’s Cam Oliver.

Kouame is set to assume the naturalized import role as Gilas embarks on a pair of road assignments in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Window 5 on Nov. 10 in Jordan and Nov. 13 in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the cavalry is coming for the Gilas pool as mainstays from the Japan B. League Dwight Ramos, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena and Ray Parks are scheduled for arrival over the next two days.

The Nationals intend to squeeze in more training sessions with its 20-man preliminary group before leaving on Nov. 7.