Big man Quentin Millora-Brown is now officially part of Gilas Pilipinas’ expanded pool, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said, ahead of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Millora-Brown, who was reclassified as a local by FIBA earlier this year, will now be part of the Gilas pool before it takes on Guam in the first window on November 28 and December 1.
He is one of four players added to the 12-man roster that saw action in the recently concluded FIBA Asia Cup.
‘We’re excited to have QMB in the pool,’ SBP President Al Panlilio said in a statement posted on Facebook Wednesday evening.
‘We got a close-up look at what he can do when he played for the Macau Black Bears and talking to coach Tim, he’s certain a guy like QMB can shine in the system that we have,’ he added.
Joining him in the now 16-man pool are Barangay Ginebra guard RJ Abarrientos, naturalized player Ange Kouame and injured big man Kai Sotto.
The 12-man Gilas squad that competed in the Asia Cup included Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Quiambao, Justin Brownlee, Carl Tamayo and AJ Edu, who will stay in the pool.
‘Continuity is still the main priority of coach Tim Cone but we saw it fit to add a couple of pieces to the training pool,’ Panlilio said.
‘Obviously, Justin will still be the top choice in terms of having a naturalized player in the lineup but we need to take advantage of actually having multiple naturalized players,’ he added.
Kouame and Abarrientos have not yet played for Gilas head coach Cone, but they have joined practices. Millora-Brown, meanwhile, will be a newcomer.
Sotto has suited up for Gilas a number of times in the past before sustaining a knee injury in January.
The first game of the first window will be played in Guam, while the December 1 game will take place in the Philippines.
The Philippines and Guam are joined by Australia and New Zealand in Group A of the Asian Qualifiers. Only the top three teams will make it to the next stage.