By REYNALD MAGALLON
RJ Abarrientos is finally getting his Gilas Pilipinas comeback while Quentin Millora-Brown will be making his national team debut after the two were named to the 12-man roster for the pair of games against Guam in the first window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Abarrientos, who last suited up for the national team in 2021 under previous head coach Tab Baldwin, will be running the show at the point guard position alongside Ginebra backcourt partner Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez and Chris Newsome.
The 6-foot-10 Millora-Brown, for his part, after finally being granted a local status by FIBA, will be forming a very tall frontline with AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, who hinted at playing his last FIBA window for the national team.
Of course, expected to lead the charge for the Filipinos is naturalized player Justin Brownlee along with the young guns Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo.
“It’s been an arduous camp this time around. I just really have to make a tough decision on coming up with the final 12 because everybody came to work,” Cone said during a send-off press conference, Monday, Nov. 24 at the Upper Deck Gym.
“And there was no reason for anybody in or out. We have to make a tough decision of keeping Juan, Troy, and Jamie home and we’re gonna go with the 12,” he added.
Cone said it has been a difficult decision cutting off the remaining three members of the pool though he reiterated that Gomez de Liano, Rosario and Malonzo are still part of the team and won’t be suiting up for Gilas only in the first window.
“They were cut from the window today but they are not cut from the program, they are still very much part of the pool,” he added.
Gilas is set to fly to Guam for its first game against Guam on Nov. 28 before coming back home to host the same team for its home game at the Blue Eagles Gym on Dec. 1.
