Millora-Brown boosts Gilas rebounding in lopsided win vs Guam
Game Monday (December 1)
(Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym)
7:30 p.m. – Philippines vs Guam
MANILA, Philippines — The entry of Quentin Millora-Brown definitely muscled up the Kai Sotto-less frontline of Gilas Pilipinas.
With the debuting Millora-Brown joining forces with holdovers June Mar Fajardo and AJ Edu, the Nationals made a record-breaking haul of 61 rebounds in their 87-46 rout of host Guam in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers the other night.
“QMB" and Fajardo, a pair of 6-foot-10’s who were part of the starting unit, led the display of souped-up power under the boards with 10 apiece as Edu, who stands as tall, collared eight off the bench. Backcourt starters Dwight Ramos and Scottie Thompson contributed six and five caroms, respectively.
The 41 defensive and 20 offensive boards combined against Guam in the Group A opener enabled Gilas to jump ahead of the list in the most rebounds in a single game in Asian Qualifiers history. They shattered the old standard of 59 registered by Iran against Syria in 2022 and Lebanon against Indonesia in 2021.
The Filipinos’ 61 likewise moved the Nationals to a share of third all-time in the WC Qualifiers behind the 63 recorded by Congo against Morocco in 2018 and Angola against Uganda in 2023.
Filipino-American Millora-Brown, who was reclassified by the FIBA as a local player last August, was a welcome addition to the team that’s still waiting for Sotto’s full recovery from an ACL tear. The 7-foot-3 Sotto hopes to return to action by January.
“He's a tremendous rebounder. He's going to play off the ball from June Mar and he's going to be able to clean up all the weak-side rebounds,” said coach Tim Cone of Millora-Brown.
“He has a nose for the ball and he's big and athletic. But the great thing about him is he really plays within himself with great intelligence and he's not out there trying to do stuff he can't do. So it's not only that great ability, but (also) the great intelligence that's going to lend itself to this basketball team.”
From the Guam gig, the Nationals travel back to the Philippines for the return match against Guam set for Monday at the Blue Eagle Gym. They look to make it back-to-back against Jericho Cruz and the Guamanians before shifting focus to the next window against New Zealand (February 26) and Australia (March 1).
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