By Rey Joble

IT could happen even to the best of them.

Alaska Milk?s prized-guard Willie Miller, one of the Philippine Basketball Association?s best clutch performers, wasn?t spared when pressure took its toll on him.

The cerebral sentinel missed two free throws in the crucial stages of the Philippine Cup?s deciding Game 7 of the championship series, moments after his teammate Joe Devance bungled his own two charities.

As a result, the Talk N Text Tropang Texters held on to a pulsating 93-89 victory to capture the title at the jam-packed Big Dome.

A day after Alaska?s heartbreaking loss in the championship series, Miller is now being blamed in basketball circles?his missed free throws becoming a hot topic in blogs and basketball forums, insinuating that probably, game-fixers have again reared their ugly head in the pro league.

But Alaska coach Tim Cone and national team mentor Yeng Guiao?two coaches who know Miller so well?believe his missed free throws won?t take anything away from the greatness of the two-time Most Valuable Player awardee.

?Let?s not forget that he is a two-time Most Valuable Player and the Best Player of the Conference and he?s one of the main reasons why we?re here in the finals,? said Cone. ?If people keeps talking about Miller?s missed free throws, why not take the blame on Joe Devance and the rest of the team, either. I mean, it?s really unfair for Willie, who has been our best player and one of the best players this franchise ever had.?

Guiao, who was responsible for taking in Miller in the PBA by picking him in the 2001 draft, said the pressure of a Game 7 match is too much that it could take its toll on anybody.

?Even a Michael Jordan would feel the pressure, but let?s be honest here, the measure of greatness of any player won?t be measured with just one game and it?s just unfortunate that Willie missed those shots. But what?s admirable was Willie?s willingness to take those shots, shots that he made almost automatically for several years now and didn?t just fall for him in Game 7 against Talk N Text,? said Guiao.