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Alaska, Miller part ways; 2-time MVP off to Kings for Baguio


Alaska playmaker Willie Miller’s almost inseparable relationship with the Aces ended on Wednesday when management of the Uytengsu-owned franchise shipped the two-time most valuable player (MVP) to the Barangay Ginebra Kings in exchange for Cyrus Baguio. The trade rumor began two years ago with Miller himself asking to be dealt to another team but Alaska coach Tim Cone decided to keep the services of the 5-foot-11 versatile guard, who rewarded the Aces with finals appearances in the 2008 and 2009 Philippine Cup. Miller’s trade rumors again circulated early this month and it was only during the All-Star break that the Alaska and Ginebra management finalized the deal.

Tim Cone.
Cone said that, while everyone was busy with the festivities in Puerto Princesa, Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo and Ginebra counterpart Robert Non, the Kings' alternate governor, were already ironing out the details of the trade. The Miller-Baguio trade deal was finalized in time for the game between the Kings and Aces on Friday. Trillo confirmed the news to GMANews.TV and said that the Aces and Kings management had already agreed in principle. "We have just agreed now (Wednesday morning)," said Trillo regarding the trade. "I’m now waiting for Samboy’s (Lim) reply but it’s already done in principle and we will forward the transaction to the Office of the Commissioner." Officials and staff members of the Office of the Commissioner are still on vacation and will resume office on Thursday where PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios will be notified of the trade 24 hours before game time. "I think Miller wants to play for another team," added Trillo. "Before, we used to rely on him a lot, but now, I guess all five players on the floor will have to work collectively. We believe Cyrus is a welcome addition to our squad. We wish Miller the best in his new team." Miller, a member of the Powerade-Pilipinas men’s basketball team that finished eighth in the FIBA Asia Championships in Tianjin, China last year, will be playing for his fourth PBA team.
Alaska's Willie Miller, right, and Ginebra's Cyrus Baguio switched sides in time for the Aces-Kings PBA Fiesta Cup match on Friday. Jeff Venancio
He played for three seasons with Red Bull (2001-2003) and Talk ‘N Text (2003-2005) and six for Alaska (2005 until the 2010 Fiesta Conference). He won championships in all of the teams he played for. Miller averaged 17 points, three rebounds, 4.5 assists and a steal per game. The former Letran stalwart posted a 50 percent three-point shooting clip (10/20), but only shot less than 30 percent (14/47) from two-point range in Alaska’s first four games. Baguio has always played second fiddle to all the squads he played for. Now, the former University of Santo Tomas stalwart, will get a starting spot with the Aces where he will be reunited with his former teammate Larry Fonacier. The high-flying guard/forward, nephew of the late PBA star Ric-Ric Marata, averaged 9.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game with Ginebra this conference.

Before, we used to rely on him a lot, but now, I guess all five players on the floor will have to work collectively. We believe Cyrus is a welcome addition to our squad. We wish Miller the best in his new team.
– Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo
Coaches holding back on trade Both Ginebra coach Jong Uichico and Cone had strongly denied the trade rumor involving Miller the past few days. "I've already turned it down," said Uichico. "At least at my level, I know it won’t push through. Cone said there were queries on Miller, but explained that they were not interested on trading him. "This is the nth time somebody inquired about Miller whether he will be traded or not and there were a lot of queries on him, but we told them we’re not interested. I told them many times before that Willie is so special and that we have no plans of trading him." Now, both bench tacticians are going to be busy guiding their new players to their system. – JVP/Rey Joble, GMANews.TV
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