Hold your horses

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) was thrilled to hear the news that Quentin Millora-Brown was already given clearance to play as a local player in various international events.

But there’s a problem: It has yet to get any formal word from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

In a message to DAILY TRIBUNE, SBP president Al Panlilio is tempering their expectations over reports that the 6-foot-10 former University of the Philippines star was finally cleared to play as a local player by the world-governing body for basketball.

Millora-Brown is moving heaven and earth just to don the Gilas Pilipinas jersey.

In fact, shortly after being classified as a naturalized player by FIBA, his agent, Tod Sedel, formed a legal team that included prominent international sports law and arbitration lawyers Ale Mosca and Toni Verano to craft his appeal. On Thursday, their resilience paid off as FIBA reportedly reversed its decision by classifying Millora-Brown as a local player.

“Our lawyers Ale Mosca and Toni Verano were able to negotiate a successful final decision,” Millora-Brown’s agent said in a report.


“I’m just thrilled for QMB because he wanted to represent the Philippines so badly, and I am grateful to FIBA for a favorable final decision.”

Fans celebrated the FIBA decision. With Gilas Pilipinas suffering a gut-wrenching loss in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup due to lack of ceiling brought by the absence of 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto, having Millora-Brown patrol the paint with 6-foot-10 AJ Edu and June Mar Fajardo in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in November was welcome development.

But Panlilio stressed that it’s still too early to celebrate.

“No, not yet. No word yet but it will definitely be a welcome development,” said Panlilio, adding that they are hoping and praying that FIBA had reversed its earlier ruling that could give Gilas head coach Tim Cone the luxury of deploying him together with their naturalized player in either Justin Brownlee or Ange Kouame.

“We really hope FIBA will have a positive ruling on QMB.”

Like Panlilio, Cone is also keeping his fingers crossed.

The American mentor said he has yet to hear anything official from the federation so he’s not keeping his hopes high despite his willingness to have Millora-Brown in their roster.

“I haven’t heard anything official from the SBP so I don’t want to get my hopes up yet,” said Cone, who is back in the country after leading Gilas Pilipinas to a quarterfinal finish in the Asia Cup recently.

In previous interviews, Cone revealed how much he likes to have Millora-Brown in his roster.

Gifted with a wide body, quick feet and impressive work ethic on the defensive end and shaded lanes, Millora-Brown could be a big boost to the Gilas squad that is itching to redeem itself against taller, heftier New Zealand and Australia in the second window of the World Cup qualifiers next year.

That’s why Cone is hoping that the reports about FIBA reversing its earlier ruling is true.

But for now, all they can do is wait for something official from the Swiss-based basketball federation.

“But if it’s true, he’ll certainly be part of the lineup,” said Cone, thrilled over the possibility of having the quadruple tower of Millora-Brown, Edu, Sotto and Fajardo together with either Brownlee or Kouame in the Gilas roster.

“That would be exciting news.”