Gilas Pilipinas’ Chris Newsome throughout a sport towards New Zealand Tall Blacks within the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers in Auckland. –FIBA PHOTO
Gilas Pilipinas was a sufferer of a sweet-shooting enemy as soon as once more, falling to New Zealand, 87-70, within the two nations’ highly-anticipated rematch within the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers on Sunday at Spark Area in Auckland.
A gradual begin to open the competition together with the Tall Blacks’ pinpoint taking pictures from deep stored the Filipinos winless of their two video games within the third and remaining window of the prelude to the continental meet that shall 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 factors to prepared the ground for Gilas Pilipinas, his efforts within the remaining quarter greasing a late fightback that was instantly doused by the vengeful hosts, who went on to take the lead in Group B.
The ultimate Group B standing additionally signifies that the Tall Blacks are doubtless going to get a good draw within the seeding within the Fiba Asia Cup.
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Gilas Pilipinas’ June Mar Fajardo throughout a sport towards New Zealand Tall Blacks within the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers. –FIBA PHOTO
June Mar Fajardo had 11 factors and 5 rebounds, whereas naturalized ace Justin Brownlee completed with 10 factors after lighting it up with 39 within the loss to Chinese language Taipei in Taiwan a couple of nights in the past.
The Philippines completed the qualifiers with a 4-2 win-loss mark.
Tohi Smith-Milner, a Tall Blacks program fixture who was taking part in his first window again from membership duties, delivered 25 factors and eight rebounds. He accounted for 5 of the Kiwi’s 13 triples within the contest which proved to be the thorn in Gilas’ facet all sport lengthy.
READ: Loss to Taiwanese provides which means to Gilas-New Zealand duel
Jordan Ngatai and Reuben Te Rangi, comebacking standouts like Smith-Milner, completed with at the least 11 factors every, whereas skipper Corey Webster completed with 14 factors, delivering a becoming contact to his milestone a hundredth sport with the Tall Blacks, who improved to 5-1 to finish the showcase.
Gilas trailed by as many as 28 factors and managed to slender the sport to only 11 behind Newsome and Brownlee with 6:37 left.
However Webster wasn’t eager on having his particular night time spoiled, and neither have been the remainder of the Tall Blacks who have been itching for payback after a loss in Manila again in November.
Dwight Ramos and Calvin Oftana each chipped in eight factors within the shedding effort, whereas AJ Edu continued to be key for Gilas along with his seven factors and 14 rebounds. Japeth Aguilar got here off the bench and gave the Nationals a unique look, ending with six and 4.
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Each nations have since certified for the Asia Cup, which shall be affected by continental powerhouses like Japan, Lebanon, and World No. 7 Australia.