Quincy Miller said that he’s willing to undergo the necessary albeit lengthy process just to see his Gilas Pilipinas dreams turn into reality one day.
The Converge import said as many weeks after expressing his intention of playing for the national team via Instagram, just a few hours after leading the FiberXers to victory over Blackwater in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“Yea. I’m willing to do anything to play for the national team,” the American big man told reporters shortly after their 132-127 win over Phoenix, Wednesday.
Miller, 29, took to his IG Story that he wants to represent the country, writing, “I wanna play on the national team” capped by the Philippine flag emoji.
Naturally, positive reactions came from netizens, with many hoping to see it happen given his solid play in the mid-season tilt — Wednesday alone saw him drop a PBA career-high 46 points on eight treys and 18 rebounds.
Asked what made him interested, the former Baylor University standout said that it all began after his first experience of the Filipinos’ passion for the game during Jordan Clarkson’s most recent go-around with Gilas.
The NBA cager played for two games in the last FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers window, including one at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay that saw them deal Saudi Arabia an 84-46 rout before 20,000 fans.
“My first game ever, when I first came into the Philippines, was when Jordan Clarkson played for the national team,” he recalled.
“I just loved the energy,” Miller continued. “I love the people, and once I saw what’s going on in the country, I loved it even more.”
The Philippines has become his favorite place, according to the Chicago native, and to actually play for Gilas would serve as icing on the cake.
“I think just the Philippines is my favorite place that I’ve been overseas. Just the people, the culture,” said Miller, a former NBA player who’s played in Europe, South America, and Asia in a career that began in 2012.
“There’s nothing that I don’t like about the Philippines, you know, and I would love to represent you guys in a national game and actually become a Filipino one day, perhaps. But I’m not pressed, I’m just a fan of you guys. That’s all.”
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