THE clamor to include Quentin Millora-Brown isn't falling on deaf ears.
In fact, a source bared that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has been working silently for the past three months on the eligibility of the former UP Maroons one-and-done star to play for Gilas Pilipinas as a local.
But the process takes time.
The same source added the national basketball federation has been collating all the necessary documents to back up the claim that the 6-foot-10 center is eligible to play for the Philippines as a local under Fiba's rigid eligibility rules.
COLUMN: QMB weighs MPBL, PBA, Spain options, waits for Gilas call
The former US NCAA Division One player's camp has submitted a copy of the passport which it claims was issued to Millora-Brown before he turned 16 - a key prerequisite for Fiba approval among players with dual citizenships.
However, such document along with other supporting papers still need to be authenticated before QMB can play for Gilas as a local and give the team the luxury of hiring a naturalized player,whose position can depend on the needs of the team.
“The SBP already has a copy of his claimed passport since he first came in sa UP. The only problem is kailangang i-double check ito before we submit it to Fiba, otherwise, if worse comes to worst, it can be grounds for tampering,” said the source.
“Although, we are not saying na tampered o may doubt sa submitted documents ni QMB, but it’s due diligence. Ginagawa yan ng SBP sa lahat ng players na may same case,” he said.
SBP president Al Panlilio confirmed the development in a short message to SPIN.ph, saying his federation has been very aggressive in building up the Gilas teams especially now that the other Asian countries are also very active in their own recruitment.
Panlilio bared that the SBP has already been pushing hard since the last quarter of 2024 to get the green light for the 24-year old Fil-American.
“We're checking the green passport of QMB. We also filed before Fiba minus the green passport and checking what they will label him,” said Panlilio in a text message.
“We want make sure that the papers are clear, we don’t want to be embarrassed. Pero syempre, our main goal here is to have QMB play for us as a local. And I think with what he and his family claim, malinaw ang chance that he gets to play as a local,” he said.
Panlilio denied they've been sitting on the papers of Millora-Brown, who has declared his interest to play for Gilas since the first time he wore the UP jersey.
“No, that’s not true. We don’t just publicize what we’re doing kasi baka makasama pa. Understand that the federation has been very dynamic when it comes to making our teams, Gilas teams, formidable,” he said.
“What’s the point of relaxing when what’s at stake is the honor of our country and the pride of millions of Filipino basketball fans worldwide,” said Panlilio.
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