Vengeful New Zealand torches Gilas Pilipinas to top Group B in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers

New Zealand exacted revenge on Gilas Pilipinas after catching fire from downtown en route to an 87-70 win as both teams concluded their respective runs at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Sunday at the Spark Arena, New Zealand. 

The Tall Blacks, who endured their first-ever loss in a FIBA setting to the Philippines back in the second window last November, came out the gate swinging and never looked back to take the top seed in Group B with a 5-1 card. 

The Filipinos, meanwhile, suffered two losses in a row to end the preliminaries at 4-2 card but are already assured of a spot in the tournament proper in August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

New Zealand started out strong, burying six triples in the first quarter alone behind big men Toho Smith-Milner and Jordan Ngatai to double up on Gilas at the end of the first frame, 30-15.

Gilas' bench led by Calvin Oftana and Carl Tamayo sparked a rally, cutting the deficit to a single digit, 37-29, thanks to a 14-7 rampage to open the second period. New Zealand , though, answered with a 16-4 blast to take a huge 53-33 halftime advantage after the Tall Blacks hit three more three-pointers. 

Gilas fought back in the second half, but came up short still. 

AJ Edu and Chris Newsome took turns with the young big man hitting a triple to end the third before Newsome fueled an 11-3 run to kick off the fourth and cut the deficit to 11 after trailing by as much as 28 early in the third, 77-66. 

But New Zealand was just unfazed to earn a payback against the Filipinos. 

Smith-Milner shot five triples on the way to a 25-point outing together with nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a block while veteran Corey Webster churned out 14 markers and two dimes to lead the way. 

As a team, New Zealand made 13 triples against the six of the Philippines.

Justin Brownlee, who exploded for 39 points days ago against Chinese Taipei, was held to just 10 points this game while Newsome and June Mar Fajardo posted 13 and 11 markers apiece. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News