Gilas Pilipinas defeats New Zealand for the first time in eight years, 93-89, in the ongoing 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Filipino basketball fans erupted in joy on Thursday night as Gilas Pilipinas secured a historic 93-89 victory over New Zealand at the Mall of Asia Arena. This thrilling win, chronicled by One Sports, marks a significant upset in the ongoing FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
The victory holds even more weight considering the historical dominance of New Zealand over Gilas.
According to Tiebreaker Times, this win marks the first time the Philippines has defeated New Zealand in a FIBA competition. The pressure was further amplified as it happened during the coaching debut of Judd Flavell for the Tall Blacks.
The November 22, 2024 game itself was a nail-biter. Gilas showcased composure and clutch shooting throughout, especially in the crucial fourth quarter. As reported by Spin.PH, Chris Newsome's timely three-pointer with over a minute remaining proved instrumental in solidifying Gilas' lead. This clutch shot effectively thwarted a potential comeback by New Zealand and propelled the Philippines towards victory.
Justin Brownlee dominated the game with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and several other key contributions, showcasing his all-around skills. Kai Sotto also had an impressive performance with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, narrowly missing a triple-double.
This win wasn't just about breaking a historical curse; it also solidified Gilas' undefeated record in the qualifiers. With a perfect 3-0 win-loss record in Group B, the Philippines is well on its way to securing a coveted spot in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
The Filipinos triumphed with a final score of 93-89. Justin Brownlee and Kai Sotto led the scoring for Gilas Pilipinas, according to the official FIBA website.
The victory sets up an exciting matchup between the Philippines and Hong Kong in their next game.
In the other Group B game, Chinese Taipei dominated Hong Kong, winning 85-55. The Tall Blacks will face Chinese Taipei in their next encounter.
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