From UAAP foes to potential Gilas Pilipinas teammates, Quentin Millora-Brown is ready to turn rivalry into brotherhood — and the catalyst for that transformation is none other than former Green Archer Mike Phillips.
In UAAP Season 87, Millora-Brown and Phillips were the pillars of one of the league’s most intense modern rivalries, anchoring University of the Philippines and De La Salle University, respectively.
That season saw the Fighting Maroons clinch the championship, with both players pushing each other to the limits of their talent.
Now, the idea of suiting up together, once a distant dream, is on the verge of becoming reality, and even sweeter, they could do it side-by-side representing the Philippines.
Phillips, who received FIBA clearance to play as a local for Gilas last February 21, is eligible to join Millora-Brown in the upcoming Window 3, where the national team will face familiar foes New Zealand and Australia once again. For Millora-Brown, the prospect of teaming up with a former rival is both exciting and motivating.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“His energy is amazing. I think he’ll bring great effort to us — really strong defensive energy, a hard roller, and a great screener. There’s a lot to look forward to,” Millora-Brown told reporters after Sunday’s 66-93 loss to the Boomers at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Phillips’ arrival comes at an opportune time. Millora-Brown is beginning to find his rhythm within Gilas’ system, posting 8.3 points on an impressive 61.9-percent shooting clip along with eight rebounds across four international games.
Still, the 6-foot-9 center acknowledges there is always room to grow, particularly in pushing teammates like Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos, CJ Perez — and soon, Phillips — to reach their full potential.
“I still need to feel the system. In the last three games, I’ve started figuring out where I fit, where I can score. Defensively, that’s always about energy, effort, and giving 100 percent,” Millora-Brown shared.
“For me, it’s also about helping our guys — finding ways to get Justin open, get him comfortable, and give our other shooters confidence. We never really found a confident flow throughout the game; they were taking us out of our spots more than we wanted.”
With the Philippines already securing a spot in the second round despite Window 2 losses, Millora-Brown’s focus is on improvement and revenge. The Tall Blacks and the Boomers will be waiting in Window 3, and he is ready.
“Just breaking their physicality, getting downhill with our guards, relieving pressure, and finding ways to get passes down the elbow,” he said.
“That’s what we need to do to win in the next games.”
