“Be Safe, Always”: QMB’s Gilas Dream Is for His Lolo

Quentin Millora-Brown’s dream of playing for Gilas Pilipinas isn’t just about representing a country. It’s about honoring a promise — one made not in words, but in presence, support, and love. At the heart of his pursuit is the memory of his late grandfather, Dr. Angel Millora, a soft-spoken Filipino physician who always ended conversations with the same three words: “Be safe, always.”

Now, those words echo louder than ever as Quentin navigates the biggest eligibility challenge of his career.

Millora-Brown, who starred for UP in the UAAP and recently suited up for the Macau Black Bears in an exhibition game against Gilas, is actively working with his camp to overturn FIBA’s classification of him as a naturalized player. Their claim? That he secured a Philippine passport before the age of 16, which would make him eligible as a local under FIBA rules.

Photo: Vyn Radovan

“Hopefully we can get this done,” he said in an exclusive interview. “We’ll see what happens.”

While he’s focused on the technical battle for eligibility, Quentin’s real motivation is deeply personal.

“When I was young, so long as you have fun, you’re safe, you’re healthy — it was always like that when I was with him,” Quentin said, referring to his grandfather. “His favorite saying was, ‘Be safe, always.’ So for him, it was just about having fun and being safe.”

The versatile center, who even knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key in their tune-up against Gilas, grew up with a strong connection to his Filipino roots through his grandfather, who graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in 1963. That bond influenced his decision to play for the UP Fighting Maroons in 2024, where he helped the team gain vengeance on De La Salle University and win a second title in three years.

Quentin’s grandfather was also a basketball player.

But just as his UP journey was reaching its peak, tragedy struck. Dr. Millora passed away in November 2024, during Season 87. Quentin flew home to the U.S. to attend the funeral, then returned and finished the season in honor of the man who first taught him to love the game.

RELATED: The UP Fighting Maroons Had to Reclaim Glory the Hard Way

Glory, Rooted in Loss

In the Finals, Quentin delivered a signature performance: 14 points, 10 rebounds, and two clutch free throws with 11.3 seconds left to seal the title. He later shared that those free throws were a tribute to his grandfather, who often reminded him how important they were.

“He always talked about free throws… being able to hit two clutch free throws in the end was a great nod to him,” he told One Sports.

The moment wasn’t just championship triumph — it was a culmination of grief, gratitude, and fulfillment. He had done what he set out to do at UP. But the journey wasn’t over.

After his memorable one-and-done UAAP campaign, Quentin explored professional opportunities abroad. While some expected him to enter the 2025 PBA Draft, he has kept that door closed — for now — as he turns his attention towards playing in Europe. His eyes are also on another bigger goal: wearing the Gilas jersey not as a guest or naturalized player, but as a Filipino.

“I see the way they pass, the way they cut. I think my skill set would fit right in with the way Coach Cone wants to play. Absolutely,” he said after the Black Bears’ close defeat against Gilas on the latter’s home court.

The appeal to FIBA is pending, but his confidence is steady. His team believes their evidence — the passport timeline — meets the threshold. What’s more, Quentin’s sincerity in wanting to serve the national team is hard to ignore.

A Promise, Not Just a Dream

In his interview, Quentin admitted he and his grandfather never explicitly talked about Gilas.

“It just seemed so far out when he was there,” he said. “But when it got closer—‘maybe that might be something we can do.’”

And now, as that “maybe” inches closer to possible reality, it’s clear that Millora-Brown’s mission is more than just basketball. It’s about legacy. About finishing what his grandfather quietly started decades ago, cheering from the sidelines, whispering reminders to be safe, to play hard, and to enjoy the game.

Whether or not FIBA rules in his favor, one thing is certain: Quentin Millora-Brown is already playing for something greater than himself.

He’s playing for his Lolo.