MANILA, Philippines – Barely 24 hours after Alaska’s heartbreaking loss to Talk ‘N Text in the deciding game of the KFC Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Finals, Alaska coach Tim Cone immediately denied rumors of an impending trade involving top gunner Willie Miller.

The long-time Alaska mentor said he hasn’t lose faith in the player he regarded as “the best closer in the league", notwithstanding the two crucial misses he committed that cost the Aces the title in Game Seven of their series with the Tropang Texters at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

“That’s silly. Absolutely not," said Cone, refuting the wild rumors that spread out like wild fire about Miller being put in the trading block.

“Let me get this straight. The guy (Miller) gets best player of the conference (BPC), wins Game Five on an incredible shot, takes us all the way to Game Seven in which he had 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, and there’s a rumor that we want to trade him?"

Cone’s denial somehow slammed the door on those whispers that Miller is headed for his fourth team after Red Bull, Talk ‘N Text and Alaska, and an assurance that the Letran ace has the full support of his long-time coach and the Aces’ organization.

Cone has this projection that Miller, a two-time most valuable player and two-time BPC awardee, still has so much room for growth. “He’s just going to become more and more dominant in our system."

Miller was headed to one of his greatest championship series when, all of a sudden, he found himself as the main reason why the Aces lost the knockout match.

He missed two crucial free throws with 15.6 seconds remaining that could have tied the score at 91-91 and altered the complexion of the match. Still, there was a huge chance to atone for the miscues.

The Aces got the possession back after those misses when Ali Peek failed to control the ball and lost it at the baseline. When play resumed, Miller drove strong along the baseline but missed what looked like an easy undergoal stab.

That was the end of it all for Alaska, which had to foul Harvey Carey to stop the clock. Since the Aces were not yet in penalty, they had to give up one more foul on Jimmy Alapag, who both knocked in the charities with three seconds left.


http://www.gmanews.tv/story/148512/Miller-trade-rumors-not-true-says-Cone