GILAS-BOUND?: Uncertainty surrounds QMB’s eligibility

Modern big man Quentin Millora-Brown expressed willingness to heed the call for national team duty if given the opportunity.

However, the 6-foot-10 Filipino-American has yet to receive a formal call-up to join the pool of Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone with just a month before the third window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

“It has to be him. It must come from him to say that QMB is deserving to be part of the national team pool,” University of the Philippines Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol told Daily Tribune.

Perasol, who was one of the main proponents of recruiting the center who played in the Vanderbilt and Citadel in the US NCAA Division 1, added that while Millora-Brown’s size and skills will be a good addition to the Gilas pool it will still fall upon Cone’s decision if he will be included or not.

“In the end, it will be the decision of coach Tim to let him be part of the pool and work from there. Either he will need time to be part of the pool or a recommendation from the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas),” he added.

“Whatever it will be, it has to start from the point with the decision of the coach and the coaching staff that he deserves to be part of the national team.”

Despite clamors to have the UP product be considered in the pool following the unfortunate injuries suffered by starting center Kai Sotto and Kevin Quiambao, uncertainty in his eligibility to play as a local in FIBA-sanctioned tournament remains a hurdle in his Gilas dream.

This was the main reason why Millora-Brown wasn’t considered as a replacement for Sotto, who suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament tear while playing for his Japan B.League club Koshigaya Alphas.

Cone opted to tap Barangay Ginebra forward Troy Rosario to join the pool to reinforce the Gilas frontcourt of June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, AJ Edu and returning forward Jamie Malonzo.

Millora-Brown, who played a major role in the Fighting Maroons conquest of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, earlier claimed that he had been issued a Philippine passport before the age of 16 — a FIBA requirement for a player to play as a local.

Gilas has yet to confirm whether Millora-Brown did meet the requirement.

“There’s no doubt that QMB is Filipino but the question really is about the timing of his passport,” Perasol said.

The UP official, in fact, also bared that they’ve been having talks with SBP about how to go about with the documents of Millora-Brown if ever he gets invited to the pool.

SBP before worked to have Gilas point guard Chris Newsome be classified as a local despite having his passport after the age of 16.

“We have a precedent before that if ever he (Millora-Brown) didn’t meet the required timing of his passport. Maybe he could follow the same pathway used by our other Gilas players who have not been issued their passports at the required age,” Perasol said.

The 24-year-old center averaged 8.09 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks during his one-and-done stint with the Fighting Maroons.

“Of course, I believe he should be part of the pool and eventually let coach Tim Cone decide if he is deserving of a spot,” Perasol said.

Gilas will head to Doha, Qatar early February for a training camp as part of its preparation for the third window on the road.

The Filipino cagers are set to face host Taiwan on 20 February before flying to New Zealand for the much-anticipated rematch with the Tall Blacks three days after.

Gilas swept the first two windows including a successful homestand last November against New Zealand and Hong Kong for a perfect 4-0 win-loss record, propelling the Nationals into the tournament proper to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 5 to 17 August.