Gilas Pilipinas bore the full brunt of New Zealand’s basketball might on Sunday morning as they fell to the hot-shooting Tall Blacks, 87-70, at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand in the conclusion of Group B action in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
New Zealand used a fiery first quarter to impose their will on Gilas, knocking down six of their first nine attempts to build a 30-15 lead. The Tall Blacks hit four more triples in the second quarter for an absurd 10-for-19 clip from downtown to head into intermission with a 53-33 lead.
The lead ballooned to as much as 28 in the third as the Tall Blacks continued to play aggressive on both ends.
Gilas Rally Foiled as They Conclude Their FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers
Gilas Pilipinas, though, staged a fight back in the fourth quarter led by Chris Newsome, who kept puncturing the New Zealand defense with drives and midrange jumpers. The Tall Blacks’ hot shooting also tapered of as the Nationals stepped up the pressure on defense.
With Newsome leading the way, Gilas managed to trim the New Zealand lead to 78-67 with over five minutes remaining. But Corey Webster, who played in the two teams’ first encounter back in November 2024, hit a trey with the shot clock running down to restore order for the hosts.
Webster finished with 14 points, including 7 in the fourth to quell the Filipinos’ comeback. Tohi Smith-Miner led the Tall Blacks with a game-high 25 points highlighted by five triples. Jordan Ngatai added 11, including two of New Zealand’s six first quarter triples.
Chris Newsome led Gilas with 13 points as he spearheaded the Nationals’ fightback. But Justin Brownlee, who had 39 in Gilas’ loss to Chinese Taipei, was held to just 10 points by New Zealand’s aggressive trapping defense. June Mar Fajardo added 11, while AJ Edu and Calvin Oftana each chipped in 8.
With the loss, Gilas finishes the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers with a 4-2 record for second place in Group B. New Zealand ends up at first place with a 5-1 slate.
The Scores
New Zealand (87) – Smith-Milner 25, Webster 14, Te Rangi 12, Ngatai 11, Britt 8, Wynyard 7, Le’afa 5, Darling 3, K. Isaac 2, Brown 0, T. Isaac 0, Ball 0
Philippines (70) – Newsome 13, Fajardo 11, Brownlee 10, Oftana 8, Ramos 8, Edu 7, Aguilar 6, Tamayo 4, Perez 3, Quiambao 0, Thompson 0, Malonzo 0
