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Two more MPBA players advance overseas

By Craig Fata, 08/24/16, 1:45PM CDT

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Pontiac's Blake Burgess goes to Spain, Windy City's Ray Miller playing in El Salvador

 

August 24, 2016

Two more Midwest Professional Basketball Association players are heading overseas.

The Pontiac 66ers are saying adios to yet another member of their 2016 playoff squad, as guard Blake Burgess has agreed to a contract with CB Cellera in Spain. Burgess becomes the seventh member of the 66ers to advance overseas since the team began MPBA play in January of 2016.

“Blake was Mr. Clutch on free throws,” said Mark Myre, general manager for the 66ers. “He lives for when the game is on the line. He’s a great young man, and we wish him the best.”

In nine regular-season games, Burgess averaged 9.0 points per game, with his best output coming on February 21, 2016, when he scored 18 points against the Gateway Steam.

Ray Miller, a two-year veteran of the MPBA, has signed with Halcones de Sonzacate in El Salvador. Miller left Chicago on Friday, August 19, but did not get to San Salvador until the next day due to flight delays. He ended up playing in a game just hours after landing.

“I want to thank Windy City coach Handy Johnson and the rest of the staff,” Miller said from San Salvador. “I also want to thank the MPBA for giving me a place to come get film and stats.”

The athletic 6’8” forward from Cal St.-Fullerton played nine games for the Windy City Groove in 2016, averaging 10.8 points per game on 64.7% shooting. He also averaged 7.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots per game. His best game occurred on March 2, 2016, when he scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Pontiac 66ers.

Miller is the fifth player to advance overseas from the Groove in 2016.

Burgess and Miller bring to 49 the number of players that have advanced from the MPBA to a higher league since January of 2015.