In a promising start to his national team career, Fil-American center Quentin Millora-Brown has seamlessly integrated into the Gilas Pilipinas program under the guidance of head coach Tim Cone. The 6'10" player, despite being an official member of the squad for only about three weeks, is already showing a strong grasp of Cone's famed triangle offense.
A Comfortable Debut in Guam
Millora-Brown made his first official appearance for Gilas during the recent FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, where the Philippines dominated host Guam with a convincing 87-46 victory. In just 17 minutes of play, the newcomer contributed a solid stat line of 6 points and 10 rebounds, demonstrating immediate productivity and understanding of his role on the court.
Learning the System Step by Step
The 25-year-old former University of the Philippines (UP) Maroon acknowledged that his adjustment to Coach Cone's system is a work in progress, but he is already feeling at ease. "It's been good. We're building it up step by step. I feel I'm starting to get a grasp of it (triangle). But I know there's still a lot more to learn," Millora-Brown shared in an interview published on SPIN.ph.
He emphasized the clear communication from the coaching staff, stating, "He's (Cone) really talking to me about what my roles are, the usual things that you expect from a young guy, just play hard, work hard, and get to know the system."
High Praise from the Hall of Fame Coach
Tim Cone, a Hall of Fame mentor known for his meticulous systems, did not hesitate to commend his new player's rapid assimilation. Cone expressed his satisfaction with Millora-Brown's learning curve, highlighting his quick pickup of both offensive and defensive concepts.
"So really impressed at how fast he picked up the triangle and all the concepts that we're trying to teach offensively and defensively," Coach Cone stated, giving the young center a passing grade early in their partnership. This quick adaptation is a positive sign for Gilas Pilipinas as they continue their campaign in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers and build chemistry for future international competitions.
