DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - He's been to various parts of the globe to play professional basketball, but taking his talents to Mongolia has proven to be one of the best decisions Ian Miller has ever made.
Mainly because he achieved success that's far bigger than championships and awards.
"This is probably top 2, top 3 of my basketball moments because it's nothing like making history," said the 33-year-old, who's been playing pro for 11 years now. "You're down forever for [being] the first to ever do it."
"We're taking pride in that - I, for sure, take pride in that; you know, representing my family, and everybody that had something to do with me growing in the game of basketball, it means a lot," he furthered.
Breakthroughs have indeed defined the 2024-25 season of him and Ulaanbaatar Xac, particularly the accomplishments they have written in the FIBA club competition circuit in Asia.
After a heartbreaking run in the BCL Asia Qualifiers last year, the Broncos authored a storybook ending to their redemption tour by claiming the BCL Asia-East 2025 crown by beating the Taoyuan Pauian Pilots.
They became the first Mongolian professional team to capture a regional title and making it all the more special was that they won as much in front of their home fans as the Final 4 was held at the MBank Arena.
But it was actually a triple celebration, too. Miller went on to earn BCL Asia-East Most Valuable Player honors after posting per-game averages of 17.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists to lead their eight-game sweep.
"It's about our team," said the Florida State alumnus in getting the tilt's highest individual plum. "My teammates trusted me to make the right plays and decisions, and the stats just handled himself afterwards."
Miller, no question, has been a huge reason why Ulaanbaatar Xac upped the ante when they acquired his services last March, although he refuses to take all the credit but rather deflects as much to his brothers.
In the three months he's been with the team, the Charlotte-native is just filled with much joy with the kind of bond he's been able to form with his teammates, which definitely is showing on the hardwood.
Another solid proof of which was their 2024-25 The League campaign, where they went on to win the whole thing to give the club its third title in the last four seasons and grow their overall collection to seven.
"We are definitely a family. Everybody joined at the hip," said the Mongolian league MVP. "Everybody knows the strengths and weaknesses of each other. We play through each other's strengths, we sacrifice for each other."
"It's been fun since I've been here, man. There's not a lot of dull moments," Miller continued with a smile. "Even with the coaching change there were still great times, and we're all growing together."
And being that tight-knit of a unit, the entire Broncos have also shared a responsibility among themselves, which is, of course, to represent Mongolia the best they can - most especially now that they're in the grand stage.
By winning the BCL Asia-East 2025, the team qualified for the BCL Asia 2025, a feat that's historic per se as they have become the first Mongolian team in 13 years to reach Asia's highest club competition.
"It's all about our team, how we're evolving as a team and as an organization in the Mongolian Basketball League," he said. "Now we're the representatives. We take pride in making everybody in that country look good."
They've already made heads turn in the 'City of Gold' right on opening day following an 84-67 victory over CBA champions Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, eventually reaching the Quarter-Finals with a 1-1 card.
No team from Mongolia has gotten past the Group Phase of the tournament formerly known as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, let alone win a single game, until the Broncos changed the narrative.
The first Mongolian team to take part in the prestigious competition, the Energy R. Falcons, went back home empty-handed from the 2012 meet after losing all four of their games in the preliminaries.
Fast forward to now and Ulaanbaatar Xac brought renewed sense of pride to the country, but Miller and his team have no plans whatsoever of stopping, especially now that they're in the knockout stages.
"We're on a business trip. It's a nice place, a vacation place, but this is business for us," he said. "We got two missions completed; now, we're going for the third one."
FIBA

Published Date:2025-06-11