Rookie Taylor Miller excited to play in PBA

Filipino-American rookie guard Taylor Miller is soaking up everything from the Terrafirma veterans as he prepares himself for the upcoming PBA grind.

With Season 48 set to open on Nov. 5, the 6-foot-2 Miller said he’s glad to learn from the Dyips’ big brothers in Alex Cabagnot, along with 2021 PBA Most Improved Player Juami Tiongson.

“Practices have been great. I’ve enjoyed working out with some of the veteran guards we have and learning the style of play out here from them. Alex Cabagnot has been a good example to me and taught me a lot about playing with pace,” Miller told The Manila Times.

Taylor Miller PHOTO FEOM MILLER’S IG

“I’ve learned a lot watching Juami Tiongson and how he’s able to be physical and score in various ways.”

Miller is known for his hops while playing college basketball for Westminster University, a Division II in the NCAA. In fact, he’s got some video clips showing him dunking at his social media account.

The freshman guard was taken in as the 12th overall pick by the Dyip. He just turned 26 on Tuesday, Oct. 10 and is coming off a productive collegiate season with Westminster, emerging as the team’s second leading scorer with 13.2 points per game average, along with 3.6 rebounds and 3.03 assists.

Having been with the Dyip for over a week now, Miller believes the team has all the tools to succeed in the PBA’s coming Season 48 after many years of failing to make the playoffs.

In fact, he noted the team also got an import on Belgian Thomas De Thaey, who he feels is a good fit, while he’s excited to also team up with fellow rookie Stephen Holt, the PBA’s top draft pick this year.

“I think we have all the tools we need from guard play all the way up to our bigs. We’ve got great size and our import Thomas De Thaey is going to be huge for us,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to playing in the backcourt with Stephen Holt.”

Miller knows he needs to bulk up as well, considering the physical plays the PBA is known for.

“I’m staying in the weight room every day after practice and working with our strength coaches,” added Miller, who recently inked a two-year pact with Terrafirma.

“They’ve been great,” he said, referring to his new PBA teammates. “Besides that, I’ve just been learning from Juami and these guys how to use my physicality and what refs tend to allow. The style is a little different from the style in the States so I’m just adapting to the PBA mentality.”

Terrafirma coach John Cardel is excited with the idea of having Miller playing at the guard spot.

“He’s really good, and plays like (Rhenz) Abando,” Cardel said, referring to the former Letran star, who is coming off an impressive stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

“He jumps real high, very athletic indeed. And we believe he can be a big point guard for the team. He just needs to be ready for the physicality,” he added.