QMB 'awesome in practice' says Cone as Gilas prepares for New Zealand, Australia

All’s well that ends well.

After ironing out what Gilas coach Tim Cone described as miscommunication, Quentin Millora-Brown was finally able to join the national team’s practice on Friday, Feb. 20.

“Q came in today. He was awesome in practice. He was awesome with his teammates, and his teammates were awesome with him,” said Cone in recorded interview of Saturday’s episode of Power & Play with Noli Eala.

After debuting with Gilas Pilipinas in the first window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the availability of QMB was initially in question for this month’s window.

However, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said earlier this week that there was a direct talk with QMB and his camp, which opened the door for the former UAAP champion to suit up.

With Millora-Brown emerging as a key piece for Gilas Pilipinas, Cone couldn’t be any happier especially as the Philippines is in for a tough schedule next week.

Gilas Pilipinas will take on New Zealand, followed by a showdown against Australia.

“Quentin, personally, he wanted to play. I talked to him before all these things started, he was dying to play,” said Cone.

“I had a meeting with the players a couple of days ago, I said ‘Look, the one thing we don’t wanna do is make anybody who’s not gonna join us look like bad guys for not joining us. Everybody has their purpose and their reasons, we’re not gonna make anybody look like a bad person just cause they can’t join us.’”

Gilas plays the Tall Blacks first on Feb. 26 before squaring off against world no. 6 Australia. Both games will be at the Mall of Asia Arena.

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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.