(UPDATE) GILAS Pilipinas Tim Cone welcomed the idea of having an additional legitimate big man for the Philippine men’s basketball team.
News broke out late Thursday evening that 6-foot-10 Quentin Millora-Brown, a former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroon, has been classified as a local player by FIBA (International Basketball Federation).
This means he can play for Gilas Pilipinas as a Filipino player and not as an import or naturalized player.
But then again, pending an official announcement from FIBA, Cone admitted he would not want to get his hopes high at this point.
“I haven’t heard anything officially from the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng PIlipinas), so I don’t want to get my hopes up yet, but if true, he’ll certainly be a part of the lineup. That would be exciting news,” Cone told The Manila Times on Friday morning.
ANOTHER PROSPECT
Justin Brownlee (32) of the Philippines goes up against Quentin Millora-Brown (42) in a tuneup game against Macau on July 28, 2025, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Millora-Brown, a Filipino with American roots, played for the Macau Black Bears as an import in this game. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO
Millora-Brown, known by his initials QMB, has been classified as naturalized player by FIBA which the Filipino American center has since appealed for reconsideration through his lawyers.
Cone had nothing but glowing words on Millora-Brown shortly after Gilas Pilipinas defeated the Macau Black Bears, 103-98, on July 30 in the Philippine team’s sendoff game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In that game, the 25-year-old Millora-Brown played as one of the Black Bears’ reinforcements, giving a good account of himself as he finished with six points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Should QMB get the local status, Gilas Pilipinas will surely get a solid front court upgrade, considering that just two days back, the Philippines got its behind kicked by Australia, 84-60, to send the 2023 Asian Games basketball champion packing in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Of course, Cone said that they intend to review their performance in the continental tournament since Gilas Pilipinas will be facing Australia and New Zealand again in the Asian qualifiers of the 2027 FIBA World Cup come November.
It is unsure if young big man Kai Sotto will be ready to suit up and play for Gilas Pilipinas since the 7-foot-3 Filipino is still recovering from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury on his knee.
The entry of QMB will surely be a welcome sight if Sotto remains on the sideline in November.
