ABUEVA, FELLOW ALUMS REACT AFTER MILLER 'REFUSES TO PLAY IN NCAA'

SOME of the former stars of the NCAA have something to say after Janti Miller turned his back on the San Beds Red Lions and the country's oldest collegiate league.

PBA stars Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra, Calvin Abueva of Titan and Adrian Nocum of Rain or Shine were left dumbfounded by Miller 'refusing to play in the NCAA' which he said in his farewell message to San Beda on Saturday.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isyu nya sa NCAA, pero sana maisip nya, halos lahat ng nage-excel sa PBA ngayon galing sa NCAA," said Abueva, a triple-double machine during his MVP years with the San Sebastian Stags.

READ Miller sweepstakes: Ateneo out, La Salle makes pitch, UP joins in

The current PBA statistical standings bear him out.

Looking at the leaders in the PBA stats after the Philippine Cup eliminations, five of eight players leading in major statistical leaders hail from the NCAA.

Abueva is the scoring leader with a 23.6-point average while former San Beda star Robert Bolick is the current topnotcher in assists at 8.4 per game.

Other statistical leaders who came from the gran old league are Kobe Bryan Monje (Letran), who has theb est field goal percentage, and fellow Titan Ultra player Mark Daniel Sangco, who is still perfect from the 3-point territory.

Another Baste alumnus, RK Ilagan of Blackwater Bossing, is the steals leader at 2.5 per game. The only UAAP player to make it to the elite list is former UP Maroon Zavier Lucero, who leads the blocks department with 2 per outing.

Abueva explained that NCAA may not be as glamorous as the UAAP, but the league brings out the best among its players.

"'Yun kasi ang kagandahan sa NCAA, sabi nga nila pag may pangalan ka, sa UAAP ka. Pero pag may gusto kang patunayan, sa NCAA ka. At ganun nga ang nangyayari sa NCAA, lahat gusting lumaro ng todo," he said.

"Puso at laro ang nilalabas ng mga player sa NCAA. Hindi pagwapuhan o palakihan ng allowance," added the 2013 PBA Rookie of the Year.

For his part, Nocum bared he wasn't happy seeing Miller turn his back on the NCAA.

"Syempre, nasaktan ako kasi ang tanong ko bakit ayaw nya sa NCAA? Ano ang meron sa UAAP at bakit mas gusto nya run, to think na nasa San Beda pa siya, ang premiere team sa NCAA?" said the former Mapua Cardinals star.

"Basta ako nalungkot lang ako kasi hindi naman dapat isyu yung liga na lalaruan mo basta maipakita mo yung value mo na dalhin sa championship yung school na nirerepresent mo. Nakakalungkot lang kasi talaga yung statement," said the high-flying guard of the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

As for Thompson, the 2021 PBA MVP and one of the league’s 50 Greatest Players, said he's trying to understand why Miller wouldn't want to play in the NCAA.

"Baka naman may rason siya. Pero kung competition ang reason nya dahil sinabi n'yang ayaw n'ya sa NCAA, siguro naman the alumni of the league can speak for themselves. Marmaing produkto ang NCAA na naging superstars sa PBA," said the former NCAA MVP out of the Perpetual Help Altas.

"Dun pa lang, proud na kaming mga dating taga NC na sabihing made ang liga when it comes to producing the best athletes," he added.

2026-01-19T10:15:13Z