QMB willingly shoulders weight of Fajardo designation
Quentin Millora-Brown was flattered when told that June Mar Fajardo considers him and Kai Sotto as the pillars of Gilas Pilipinas down low.
“What an honor to be mentioned in that way,” the player known by his initials, QMB, told a couple of reporters after his first practice session with Gilas Pilipinas on Tuesday at Blue Eagle Gym inside the Ateneo campus.
Fajardo acknowledged ahead of the first window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers that his days with the national team are numbered, given his age (he turned 36 on Monday), and that the baton will soon be handed to Sotto and Millora-Brown.
Sotto has already shown he can lead Gilas and has been a shoo-in to the squad prior to his ACL injury. Millora-Brown, on the other hand, is just getting his feet wet after being included in the pool for the two matches against Guam on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1.
The nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player’s declaration is not just a compliment, but also a challenge for Millora-Brown.
“I’m going to do everything I can to live up to those expectations,” said the former one-and-done University of the Philippines standout.
The late-morning practice that ended around lunch time was the first chance for Millora-Brown to get acclimated to how things are done under Gilas coach Tim Cone, who had been drooling over his addition before that process was delayed because of eligibility issues.
Oftana out
Fiba had initially ruled that the 6-foot-10 center, who is 25, should play as a naturalized player for Gilas. But Millora-Brown, with the help of his lawyers, won his appeal to suit up as a local.
“I felt like it was a long process, but in reality it was probably not too bad a process,” he said about the long wait. “It was probably right around the average time. When you’re the one waiting, it always feels longer.”
With that ordeal aside, Millora-Brown is glad to be finally rubbing elbows with the likes of Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, just days away from finally donning the Gilas jersey.
“I can’t even really put into words the excitement I have to be here, to have this opportunity to represent the Philippines,” he said. “I’m just so happy about it.”
Millora-Brown was one of 12 players who attended the initial session, which was held at the venue of the second meeting with Guam. Juan Gomez de Liaño also appeared in the first practice for Gilas.
Fajardo, Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Aguilar, Troy Rosario and RJ Abarrientos were also on hand for the practice facilitated by Cone, along with assistants Josh Reyes, Jong Uichico, LA Tenorio and Manu Hoque, and team manager Richard del Rosario.
Calvin Oftana has been ruled out of the window due to a hamstring injury, AJ Edu and Kevin Quiambao will come in late, while Carl Tamayo has to process his US visa to be available for the first game in Guam.
