UP center Quentin Millora-Brown fights for the ball during a UAAP Final Four game against UST.–UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Tested physically and mentally, University of the Philippines big man Quentin Millora-Brown stood tall against University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four on Saturday.

The 6-foot-10 Millora-Brown, who was on the receiving end of UST guard Forthsky Padrigao’s two unsportsmanlike fouls, still dominated the frontcourt with nine points, 19 rebounds, and four blocks as the Fighting Maroons notched their fourth consecutive UAAP Finals appearance with a scrappy win over the Growling Tigers.

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“I think it was a hard-fought game for us. The coaches prepared us for what we needed to do. They said from the start that it was going to be a war going in there. But we have two more games that we have to lock into,” said Millora-Brown after the 78-69 victory. “The coaching staff is gonna give us the game plan and it’s up to us to execute.”

READ: Upsets unlikely in UAAP Final Four but UST, Adamson will try anyway

The Filipino-American student-athlete remained calm amid a rough-and-tumble affair that saw Padrigao get ejected late in the game.

“They said whatever happens, the game’s gonna get scrappy. So just whatever happens, just play through it and just don’t let them get into your mind because you don’t want to be in a situation where you sacrifice a future for what we’re looking at. So they just prepared us that way,” said Millora-Brown.

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After overcoming the Growling Tigers, Millora-Brown prepares for a tougher battle in the Finals next week against the winner between No. 1 and defending champion La Salle and Adamson.

“It’s just all about winning. Whatever it takes. Everyone needs to step up on the team. Everyone knows that there are going to be sacrifices that need to be made. Just being prepared to do whatever it takes,” he said.