Former UP big man Quentin Millora Brown. UAAP Media/File
MANILA -- Former University of the Philippines (UP) big man Quentin Millora-Brown may be suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas as soon as November.
National team coach Tim Cone confirmed the development on Friday, at the sidelines of the PBA's Media Day in Quezon City.
"We have to try to mix in Quentin, QMB, into the line-up. The Guam window will be a time when QMB can really try to get integrated into the team," he said.
"Yes. We assume he is, yes," Cone responded when asked if QMB will play for Gilas in November.
READ: After Quentin Millora-Brown, will Gilas Pilipinas add more players to its pool?
The champion mentor said they are in communication with Millora-Brown, who is currently in Japan.
Cone said Millora-Brown is already being sent videos to familiarize himself with the triangle offense and adapt to the Gilas system.
"He is working with Patrick Partosa, our analytics guy, our video guy. We are sending videos back and forth, triangle stuff so that he can get a head start," he said.
"But I don’t know if he is actually playing with a team yet or if he signed a contract with anybody there. But he is apparently excited about playing in November," Cone added.
However, Cone was quick to temper expectations for Millora-Brown, despite his solid outings for UP in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament, and more recently for the Macau Black Bears.
"He's a young guy, doesn't know the system yet. We have to make sure we have realistic expectations for him. Don't get the expectations too high, where he will come and dominate right away," Cone said.
Last month, FIBA classified Millora-Brown as a local under its Management and Administration Platform.
READ: FIBA classifies Quentin Millora-Brown as Philippine local
Cone earlier said the addition of Millora-Brown to Gilas will be a much-needed boost, giving the team more height. Millora-Brown will reinforce the Gilas frontline which already has Kai Sotto, AJ Edu and Junemar Fajardo.
Following the addition of Millora-Brown, Cone said it's too early to determine who will make it to the Gilas roster for the next window.
"It's more of an addition at this point. We haven't removed anybody. He's [QMB] is just added in. And also Kai [Sotto]. If Kai comes back healthy, obviously he'll be another change from the 12 guys. Those are decisions we'll have to make but we don't have to make them now," he said.
Sotto is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear he suffered in January. Last month, he resumed non-contact training seven months after suffering the injury that required surgery.
The big man did not join Gilas for its tour of duty in the FIBA Asia Cup last July to focus on recovery. Sotto's situation will be one of the factors in determining the final 12 for the upcoming window.
Gilas will be on the road to begin its FIBA World Cup qualifiers campaign against Guam on November 28, followed by a home game on December 1.