Amid the flurry in the UAAP offseason, there was one move that may have slipped past many as the buildup for UAAP Season 87 began.
The UP Fighting Maroons were bringing in Quentin Millora-Brown, who just wrapped up a US NCAA stint that saw him play for the Rice Owls, Vanderbilt Commodores, and The Citadel Bulldogs. As a one-and-done UAAP player, Millora-Brown would only have a short stint with the Fighting Maroons, but as it stands, what he can do in a year could matter more than what other players could offer in five years.
Millora-Brown doesn’t have much flash in his game; he simply gets things done. He does not have a deep bag of moves, but he knows what to do no matter what situation he’s put in. With averages of 8.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in seven games, the Filipino-American has been a steady presence in UP’s frontcourt, which has contributed greatly to the Fighting Maroons’ league-leading 34.9 points in the paint per game.

Much of that was on display in UP’s first-round matchup against the DLSU Green Archers, who didn’t have an answer for him until late in the game. Whether it was when Millora-Brown was crashing the boards or in the paint, where he would find a mismatch on a switch, La Salle needed to put more attention and defenders on him. As a result, Millora-Brown had an efficient double-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks, and a steal, but it wasn’t enough to take down the defending UAAP champions.
It’s a shame that the Fighting Maroons didn’t go to Millora-Brown more often. Sure, DLSU’s guards boxed him out and forced him into mistakes in the fourth quarter, but he had no qualms battling Mike Phillips and Henry Agunanne in the post. Besides, in a game when UP’s 3-point shooting didn’t really show up, a power game inside would have been more effective.
The second round should present some opportunities for the Fighting Maroons to get Millora-Brown more involved with UP’s schemes. On any given night, the Fighting Maroons have the advantage in the frontcourt numbers-wise, so they can give Millora-Brown more touches on offense. He can clearly draw attention in the paint and with UP’s shooting failing to find its mark, drawing defenses in could help the Fighting Maroons’ shooters rediscover their touch.
It may be a stretch for Quentin Millora-Brown to enter the UAAP MVP conversation, but his effectiveness trumps that of some of this season’s MVP contenders. The UP Fighting Maroons remain in a good position to finish the elimination round of UAAP Season 87 as the top seed, but how they utilize Millora-Brown could help make their road to a championship much smoother.
