TO win the UAAP men’s basketball title for the University of the Philippines is personal for Quentin Millora-Brown.
It won’t just be another badge of honor or sporting accolade for the 6-foot-10 Fil-American modern big.
READ: QMB a difference-maker as UP draws first blood vs La Salle
QMB’s one and only fight for UP is to honor the legacy of his late lolo Angel Millora, an alumnus of the university and the man who played the greatest part in his decision to take his talents to Diliman.
“All of it. All of this is for him. I use it as motivation to remind me even more why I want [this championship] that much more,” QMB, on the verge of tears, shared with SPIN.ph.
First crack at the crown
Back in Round 2, Millora-Brown took an emergency leave from UP duties as he flew back to the US to attend his lolo Angel’s burial.
READ: UP debuts black jerseys following QMB's mourning of lolo
The game he missed? The Fighting Maroons' 66-77 second-round loss to La Salle.
QMB would then put up a career-best 17-point, nine-rebound double-double in the first chance there was for him to get back at their Taft rivals, that being Game 1 of the men’s basketball finals in front of a 16,202-strong Big Dome crowd.
What the eventual series-opening victory meant was how the Fighting Maroons turned a gold chance to a bold statement: against the Green Archers, State U can, and State U will.
“We haven't beat them before today, this season, so just coming out and letting everyone know, we can beat them,” said Millora-Brown.
“It was just awesome. I’m glad that we were able to get the first part of the job done and now it's on us to lock in to get this second win."
“We know that it's going to be a tough fight, but being prepared for it is what we need to do. In the next few practices, we'll just be locked into the details and come back with even more energy.”
His promise to the UP faithful? To finish what they started with a touch of gold.
As he put it, “I’m so hungry for it, you know. Whatever it takes, we're going to find a way.”
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