Miller (left) taking on Gary David
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Free agent | |
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Position | Point guard / Shooting guard |
Personal information | |
Born |
Olongapo, Philippines |
July 13, 1977
Nationality | Filipino |
Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
Career information | |
College | Colegio de San Juan de Letran |
PBA draft | 2001 Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
Selected by the Batang Red Bull Thunder | |
Playing career | 1999–present |
Career history | |
1999–2000 | Nueva Ecija Patriots |
2001–2003 | Batang Red Bull Thunder |
2004–2006 | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals |
2006–2010 | Alaska Aces |
2010–2011 | Barangay Ginebra Kings |
2011–2012 | Barako Bull Energy |
2012–2013 | GlobalPort Batang Pier |
2013–2014 | Barako Bull Energy |
2015 | Talk N' Text Tropang Texters |
2015–2016 | Pilipinas MX3 Kings |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Willie V. Miller, Jr. (born July 13, 1977) is a Filipino professional basketball player. He last played for the Pilipinas MX3 Kings of the ASEAN Basketball League. He has started at the point guard position mostly but could also play the shooting guard spot. Miller has won four PBA championships and two PBA Most Valuable Player Awards.
Miller played collegiate basketball for Letran, where he was highly promoted in the national media as a future PBA superstar. After graduating, he was selected with the first overall pick in the 2001 PBA draft by the Thunder. Miller led them to two PBA championships before he got traded to the Alaska Aces where he also won one.
Willie Miller played collegiate ball for the Letran Knights in the NCAA.
In 1999, Miller turned pro and instead opted to play for the expansion Nueva Ecija Patriots of the MBA. With Miller parading the Patriots, he was ranked second in the league in scoring averaging 23.6 a contest and made it to the MBA First Five. However, the Patriots won only five games in his first season.
Despite another impressive second year with Nueva Ecija, they never made it to the playoffs as the team ranked among the worst teams in the league during the 2000 season.
In 2001, Miller opted out of the MBA to join the PBA Rookie Draft. Batang Red Bull Thunder, with the top overall pick in the draft, selected Miller as the first pick, despite speculations of possibly choosing Filipino-American John Arigo.
In his first season, Miller was playing the backup role to Jimwell Torion at point guard but was able to contribute solid numbers in his PBA debut. He played a key role in Red Bull's 2001 Commissioners Cup championship upset of the San Miguel Beermen. In Game 5, he made a last-second block on Beermen import Nate Johnson to preserve the Thunder's victory, and a 3-2 series lead.