Gilas Pilipinas’ Chris Newsome during a game against New Zealand Tall Blacks in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers in Auckland. –FIBA PHOTO
Gilas Pilipinas was a victim of a sweet-shooting enemy once again, falling to New Zealand, 87-70, in the two nations’ highly-anticipated rematch in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers on Sunday at Spark Arena in Auckland.
A slow start to open the contest along with the Tall Blacks’ pinpoint shooting from deep kept the Filipinos winless in their two games in the third and final window of the prelude to the continental meet that will be staged Saudi Arabia this August.
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LIVE: Gilas Pilipinas vs New Zealand at 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers
Chris Newsome wound up with 13 points to lead the way for Gilas Pilipinas, his efforts in the final quarter greasing a late fightback that was immediately doused by the vengeful hosts, who went on to take the lead in Group B.
The final Group B standing also means that the Tall Blacks are likely going to get a favorable draw in the seeding in the Fiba Asia Cup.
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Gilas Pilipinas’ June Mar Fajardo during a game against New Zealand Tall Blacks in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers. –FIBA PHOTO
June Mar Fajardo had 11 points and five rebounds, while naturalized ace Justin Brownlee finished with 10 points after lighting it up with 39 in the loss to Chinese Taipei in Taiwan a few nights ago.
The Philippines finished the qualifiers with a 4-2 win-loss mark.
Tohi Smith-Milner, a Tall Blacks program fixture who was playing his first window back from club duties, delivered 25 points and eight rebounds. He accounted for five of the Kiwi’s 13 triples in the contest which proved to be the thorn in Gilas’ side all game long.
READ: Loss to Taiwanese adds meaning to Gilas-New Zealand duel
Jordan Ngatai and Reuben Te Rangi, comebacking standouts like Smith-Milner, finished with at least 11 points each, while skipper Corey Webster finished with 14 points, turning in a fitting touch to his milestone 100th game with the Tall Blacks, who improved to 5-1 to end the showcase.
Gilas trailed by as many as 28 points and managed to narrow the game to just 11 behind Newsome and Brownlee with 6:37 left.
But Webster wasn’t keen on having his special night spoiled, and neither were the rest of the Tall Blacks who were itching for payback after a loss in Manila back in November.
Dwight Ramos and Calvin Oftana both chipped in eight points in the losing effort, while AJ Edu continued to be key for Gilas with his seven points and 14 rebounds. Japeth Aguilar came off the bench and gave the Nationals a different look, finishing with six and four.
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Both countries have since qualified for the Asia Cup, which will be littered with continental powerhouses like Japan, Lebanon, and World No. 7 Australia.