Millora-Brown debuts in style as Gilas thrashes Guam in FIBA World Cup qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines – A potential thriller turned one-sided on a dime as Gilas Pilipinas shackled Guam, 87-46, in their first of two battles to open the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Calvo Fieldhouse in Guam on Friday, November 28.

Former UAAP champion and UP one-and-done star center Quentin Millora-Brown had himself a national team debut to remember for his grandfather’s homeland, immediately earning head coach Tim Cone’s starting nod and finishing with 6 points, 9 rebounds and a +25 in 17 minutes of action.

However, it was still the Justin Brownlee show for the Philippines as the naturalized veteran star piled on 22 points in as many minutes of play to go with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a game-high +37.

Hotshot guard Dwight Ramos was not far behind with a +36 for himself to cap off a decent 10-point, 6-board (5 offensive), 3-dime line as Gilas turned a 25-24 second-quarter deficit to a 64-33 burial in the third, off a massive 40-8 swing bridging the two halves.

Guam failed to put up a credible threat in the remaining time as Carl Tamayo pushed the lead to as high as 44, 87-43, off a late three in the final 33 seconds before Kirston Guzman sank a buzzer-beating trey on the other end to set the final score.

“The score didn’t indicate it, but we have tremendous respect for the Guam team in terms of winning the qualifiers to the [FIBA] Asia Cup and getting to the second round of the Asia Cup. It’s an amazing feat for them,” Cone said after the game.

Fil-Guamanian star Jericho Cruz of the PBA’s San Miguel scored 13 of Guam’s first 17 points in an opening-quarter deadlock against Gilas before settling for a 17-point total on 7-of-20 shooting and 3-of-12 from three in 30 minutes.

“That first quarter was [all] Jericho Cruz, who we know real well, because he plays in our league. We didn’t have an answer for him, and we knew he was gonna be incredibly motivated against us. In the second half, we defended really well, stretched the lead, and that ended up being the game.”

Gilas and Guam conclude their home-and-away series back in the Philippines on Monday, December 1, as the Ateneo de Manila University offers its renovated Blue Eagle Gym as the Gilas home floor for the first time ever.

The Scores

Gilas Pilipinas 87 – Brownlee 22, Ramos 10, Edu 8, Fajardo 8, Perez 7, Quiambao 7, Thompson 7, Millora-Brown 6, Abarrientos 5, Tamayo 3, Aguilar 2, Newsome 2.

Guam 46 – Cruz 17, Wesley 12, Galloway 8, Johnson 4, Guzman 3, Fegurgur 2, Africano 0, Blas 0, Calvo 0, Hechanova 0, Osborn 0, Simon 0.

Quarters: 17-17, 40-29, 64-36, 87-46.

– Rappler.com