DON'T be surprised if you ride a taxi one day and the driver looks very much familiar.

Two-time PBA MVP Willie Miller bared he is now contemplating on driving one of the four cabs of his AFB taxi franchise, party to keep himself busy and partly to ease the impact of the sudden decline in his income since being left without a pro league team.

“Ramdam ko rin syempre yung effect sa income ng family. Ilang buwan na akong walang team sa PBA, kaya syempre yung sweldo nun, nafe-feel mo,” Miller told Spin.ph shortly after leading his amateur team Siargao Legends to a 78-70 win over FEU-NRMF in the 4th DELeague Cup in Marikina.

“Magta-taxi driver na ko,” the affable 37-year-old former Letran Knight said. “May apat na unit ako ng taxi eh. Nabili ko kay Kerby (Raymundo)."

[See Left out in the cold, Miller ponders options but resists retirement]

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Miller claimed that even during the time he was still active playing for the Barako Bull Energy in the PBA, he has always tinkered with trying to experience how it is to become a taxi driver.

“Masaya kayang mag-drive ng taxi. Ang tagal ko nang iniisip 'yun. Nung naglalaro pa ko, gusto ko nang mag-drive. Masaya yun, nakakapangulit ka,” said Miller, one of the friendliest PBA players you will ever come across.

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“Masaya yun, syempre pag kunwari may practice din ako sa kahit anong (amateur) team na lalaruan ko, diretso na ko mula sa byahe,” Miller claimed.

Asked if he is not afraid to expose himself to the daily risks a cabbie faces in Manila's roads, Miller said, '‘Bakit naman?’

“Mababait naman ang mga tao," he added. "Kung may mangho-holdap o masamang loob, eh di ibigay mo (ang kotse).”

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The outspoken Olongapo City pride also bared he can be a very good taxi driver because he knows the streets and backstreets of the metropolis like the back of his hand.

“Oo, kabisado ko ang Manila. Tagal ko na rito. Mahuhuli lang ako sa mga binago-bagong one-way (streets),” he said.

Basketball, however, will still be a big part of Miller's future. If no call-up came from any of the 12 PBA teams, the 13-year PBA veteran said he is also considering holding clinics for kids.

“Gusto kong magturo ng mga bata eh. Yun ang plano ko talaga. Pero sa ngayon, gusto ko pang maglaro. Kaso biglaan eh (na nawala ako sa PBA),” he said.

All may not be lost for his basketball career.

Spin.ph has learned that Miller is now being eyed by Blackwater Elite and NLEX Road Warriors as the two expansoion teams are eyeing to beef up their backcourt.

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“Basta andito lang ako kung kailangan nila. Saka madaming liga dyan, basketball naman hindi nawawala. Basta may bola at may court, sanay tayo dyan. Sweldo lang ang wala ako talaga,” he said before cracking up.

Miller is currently playing for Siargao in the Marikina-based DELeague Cup, where he is currently the team captain of the still unbeaten team owned by Nestor Luego.

Here's a video of full interview with Willie Miller:



