Dwight Ramos welcomed the return of Quentin Millora-Brown as a timely boost for Gilas Pilipinas, giving much-needed size ahead of FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers home games vs New Zealand and Australia.
Dwight Ramos welcomed the timely arrival of Quentin Millora-Brown as a major boost for Gilas Pilipinas ahead of its home stand in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Millora-Brown is set to fly in from Japan to join the national team, a development confirmed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Thursday.
The 6-foot-10 big man is currently playing for the Chiba Jets, while Gilas has already begun its preparations for the February window.
For Ramos, having Millora-Brown in the fold addresses a key need as Gilas braces for two physically demanding matchups.
"I'm glad he's able to come," Ramos told reporters at the sidelines of the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference. "Obviously we needed some size because New Zealand and Australia are two big teams. It’s good that he’s back."
Millora-Brown's availability comes as welcome news for Gilas after earlier reports suggested he might miss the window due to contract-related concerns.
Fellow big man Kai Sotto is also expected to sit out as he continues to work his way back from an ACL injury.
During the first window of the Asian Qualifiers last year, Millora-Brown delivered steady production, averaging 7.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Gilas is scheduled to host New Zealand on February 26 and Australia on March 1. Both games set to be played on home soil—an advantage Ramos believes could be pivotal.
"We just finished the Inspire training camp and then we're gonna be practicing every day leading up to the games," Ramos shared. "We're still missing a few guys but so far so good and everyone’s been playing well."
With preparations ramping up and the home crowd expected to be in full force, Ramos remains optimistic about Gilas’ chances.
"I think it’s good," he said. "We're playing at home, we got the home crowd, and then based on the past few practices everyone’s been playing well. So I'm excited to see everyone playing well and do well."
Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.