In his first two years in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Mike Miranda never got his big break. Donning a Phoenix jersey early in his career, he mostly rode the bench and barely saw action on the court.
Everything changed when Yeng Guiao, NLEX's head coach, saw his potential in the offseason and signed him up. From being utilized sparingly, the big man now serves as a key player for the Road Warriors.
The 6-foot-5 forward emerged as the unlikely hero that towed NLEX to their first semifinals appearance in franchise history. He averaged 11.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in their 2018 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals series against Alaska.
"We all know that with coach Yeng (Guiao), everyone is given an opportunity to play," he told reporters after NLEX secured an 87-83 victory on Wednesday night. "Before, I wasn't getting noticed. He told me that he would give me a break. Of course I had to repay the trust that the team gave me."
With the Aces threatening to extend the series to a do-or-die match, the Road Warriors needed someone to take charge in the dying minutes. Miranda, who came in to replace the fouled out JR Quiñahan, stepped up to the challenge. He responded to the Aces' 9-0 tear with five straight points to put his team back in the lead for good.
The NLEX bruiser also delivered when it mattered in Game 1. Kiefer Ravena stood out and drained the biggest baskets that sealed the win, but Miranda also made some clutch conversions prior to the rookie's endgame heroics.
As it turned out, all Miranda needed was an opportunity to prove his worth.
Guiao has been known for giving equal opportunities to his players, down to the last man on the bench. His system never relied on superstars. He boosted the confidence of many unheralded players by giving them significant minutes and allowing them to showcase their skills. Like all the others that he mentored before, he knew that Miranda was just waiting for his moment to shine.
"I think Miranda was a potential just aching to expose himself if given the chance," he said. "He really rewarded the team by making the most out of the chance given to him. It's the story of a lot of players, a lot of players languishing on the bench. But when you give them a break, they will step up and prove themselves."
Alaska head coach Alex Compton also commended Miranda's stellar performance, saying that he can serve as an inspiration for struggling athletes.
"That's two straight games that he played well against us. He should be an encouragement to all young players that don't get a big break right away," he noted.
More will be expected from Miranda and the rest of the Road Warriors as they make their semifinals debut against the tough Magnolia Hotshots on Saturday.
"We need to work hard because this is the semifinals, it's a different level. We need to play hard as a team and follow our coaches' game plans. We'll do our best and we'll prepare well against them," Miranda closed.