They didn’t make the team.
PBA legend Willie Miller didn’t mince words when reports surfaced that a couple of players “asked for the moon” to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the recently concluded Asian Games.
In a press conference on Monday, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas bared two players asked for a hefty price to play for the hastily-assembled team led by Justin Brownlee.
This didn’t sit well with Miller, who has been active with PBA Motoclub group playing exhibition games.
“Simula una walang bayad Philippine team, puso lang. ‘Yung Philippine flag lang na nire-represent mo tuwang-tuwa ka na kasi bibihira makapaglaro diyan,” he told fellow PBA Motoclub member Rico Maierhofer in their video on Youtube.
“Kung ayaw niyo, may ibang gusto diyan kahit walang bayad.”
The two didn’t make the team that eventually made history and won the gold medal for the first time in 61 years.
Miller bared he knew which players Vargas was referring to in the said conference. In fact, there were more.
“Hindi lang dalawa. Narinig ko na ‘yan,” he said. “Hayup ‘tong mga ‘to, Philippine team ire-represent niyo nagpapabayad kayo. Wala pa kayong nagagawa sa sarili niyo. Kilala ko kayo.”
Pressed to give a clue, Miller added: ‘Yung isa Fil-Am ‘to, hindi naman marunong ‘tong hayup na ‘to puro dunk lang.”
But Maierhofer asked his fellow ex-pro to give them the benefit of the doubt.
“Manager will always find ways, kasi ‘yun trabaho niya e,” he said. “Pag sinabi ng manager na, ‘Alam ko gusto mo maglaro for Philippine team pero nagbayad sila kay Jordan (Clarkson) at Kai (Sotto), kaya ko rin hingin yan.’”
Maierhofer clarified he’s not trying to defend the player.
“Ngayon ‘yung player, hindi alam masisira siya. Pwedeng ganun. Hindi ko naman pinoprotektahan ‘yung player pero may possibility.”
Miller agreed. He then offered an advice to the said hoopers and future Gilas members.
“Play for the flag, play for the Filipinos, not for the money. Karamihan kasi ang motivation pera. Kaunti na lang ‘yung love for the game,” he said.
“Pakibigyan naman ng chance baka 'pag tinanong ulit, mag-oo na ‘yan nang walang bayad.”
(CF)