Gilas Pilipinas Men get a big boost with the addition of Quentin Millora-Brown, who could make his national team debut as early as November for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Quentin Millora-Brown is the newest addition to the Gilas Pilipinas Men pool.
Gilas coach Tim Cone bared this development to reporters during the PBA Media Day ahead of the league’s 50th season.
Asked if QMB’s addition means he is suiting up for Gilas in the first window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in November, Cone answered in the affirmative.
“Yes. We assume he is,” said Cone.
[RELATED STORY: Quentin Millora-Brown can now join Gilas Pilipinas as a local]
The 6-foot-10 center has come a long way since he was initially categorized as a naturalized player by FIBA.
But Millora-Brown persisted, with his camp submitting an appeal to the basketball governing body for him to be allowed to play as a local for the national team.
Just a month ago, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas revealed the former UP standout won the appeal.
However, Cone said he isn’t sure whether QMB is under contract with a team right now. Millora-Brown’s previous known affiliation is with the Macau Black Bears.
He was with Macau when the Black Bears played Gilas Pilipinas in a tune-up game last July 28 before the FIBA Asia Cup.
What’s certain though, is that the Gilas coaching staff is already giving Millora-Brown some pointers to give him a head start before he officially joins national team training.
“Bottomline is I know he’s in Japan and we’ve been communicating with him and he’s working with Patrick Partosa, our analytic guy and our video guy. They’re sending videos back and forth, triangle stuff, so he can try to get a head start,” Cone said.
“But I don’t know if he’s actually playing with a team yet or if he’s signed a contract with anybody over there. He’s apparently very excited about playing in November.”
[ALSO READ: Quentin Millora-Brown 'just what the doctor ordered' for Gilas says Cone — ‘He’s the 6’10” KQ’]
—
Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.