QUENTIN Millora-Brown is literally one of the biggest difference-makers for the University of the Philippines.
But coach Goldwin Monteverde refused to use a 6-foot-10-sized excuse after its 77-66 defeat to La Salle on Sunday.
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“I don’t think yung wala si Q rito is that big of a factor tonight, although siyempre, malaking tulong siya,” he told SPIN.ph.
Millora-Brown was absent for the much anticipated tilt, as the one-and-done center left the country on Thursday to go back to the US to attend to his grandfather’s burial.
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Despite the Fighting Maroons missing their starting big, the Iskos actually did a good job on the boards, winning the rebounding battle, 47 to 38.
Wake UP call
What Monteverde attributed the loss to, however, is what he felt to be a lack of team play, noting that this second loss to the Green Archers should already be a reality check heading into the UAAP Season 87 Final Four.
“Isang factor lang yung rebounds. But then, kailangan namin to execute well offensively,” he said.
“We really need to work on yung mga things that we do on both ends, yung offense and defense namin. This game should wake us all up and get us ready for the Final Four.”
It really wasn’t the usual dominant State U squad we’ve come to expect this season, with it only shooting 3-of-19 from deep and committing 20 turnovers.
The interior defense was also suspect, as the Diliman side allowed their Taft counterparts to shoot 49-percent inside the arc.
Monteverde argued that though this loss stings, UP still isn’t far from the form it aspires to have, as it approaches the end of the eliminations.
“Hindi naman kami sobrang layo sa gusto namin pero sa ilang games namin na natitira, 'di kami nakukumpleto,” he said, with the Fighting Maroons expecting Millora-Brown to be back in the saddle in time for their next game against Far Eastern University on Saturday
And it’s not just for that game against the Tamaraws, but also for that final assignment against University of the East on Nov. 21.
“Kailangan na makumpleto kami,” said Monteverde. “Yung two games na darating sa amin, importante sa amin is how we play as a team and how to improve.”
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