By REYNALD MAGALLON
CANDON CITY — Willie Miller and Ranidel de Ocampo couldn’t help but look back on their own playing days as they joined the league’s young stars in the RSJ game in the PBA ArenaPlus All-Star weekend on Friday, March 6 here.
Miller and de Ocampo were revealed to be joining the Rookie-Sophomore and Juniors team alongside fellow greats Arwind Santos and Marc Pingris.
And while they are long retired from playing in the PBA, they are just thankful to still become a part of the All-Star festivities.
“Matagal na kaming naglaro ng All Star, excited pa rin kami kasi ‘yung basketball naman, hindi mawawala sa amin ‘yan eh,” said De Ocampo, who actually serves as an assistant coach for the Tropang 5G and will be playing alongside TNT players Kim Aurin and Henry Galinato.
For Miller, meanwhile, sharing the court with some of the up and coming players of the league, ignited the competitive fire in him, even if it’s all fun and games for the fans.
“Napapagusapan nga namin ni Ranidel, medyo mga mahiyain yung mga bata. Medyo hindi kumukulit,” said Miller, now an assistant for Converge.
“Pero alam naman natin sa laro kahit kami noon, all fun kami sa interview, sa events, pero pagdating sa basketball syempre competitive pa rin iyan. Pilipino tayo ayaw natin nagpapatalo so pag jump ball yan iba na yung mga mentality,” he added.
De Ocampo also said he missed interacting with the fans.
“Bukod sa game na very competitive, ang isa pa na-eenjoy ko is ‘yung pagpunta namin sa mga lugar, sa school, csa mga community, ‘yung makihalubilo sa mga tao,” he said.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial bared that the league is actually looking to stage a Legends game for this edition of the All-Stars but did not materialize due to scheduling conflicts.
De Ocampo and Miller, though, are hopeful for that to happen in the future to give back to the fans.
