A gutsy Gilas Pilipinas squad gave New Zealand a late scare, however in the end fell quick, 94-86, to stay winless in Group D of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup on Thursday on the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis, Saudi Arabia.
The Philippines fell behind by as many as 18 factors within the first half however fought again late, closing again to inside three factors within the fourth quarter. However the Tall Blacks obtained the performs they wanted down the stretch to come back away with the win — their second in two outings within the match to this point.
Jordan Ngatai led the Kiwis with 22 factors on near-perfect taking pictures from the sector (7-of-8, 87.5%) whereas Taylor Britt added 19 markers, together with six of his crew’s final 9 factors within the contest.
Justin Brownlee shot the lights out with 37 factors, however that was not sufficient on this night time as Gilas fell to 0-2 following their loss to Chinese Taipei of their opening recreation.
Brownlee led Gilas early as he scored eight of his crew’s first 12 factors in a bodily, forwards and backwards begin to the sport.
The Tall Blacks then opened up a cushty lead, 23-14, behind a 9-0 run led by Max Darling, Flynn Cameron, and Ngatai, however Gilas scored the final two baskets of the quarter as they closed again in, 23-18, after one.
Ngatai, who was on fireplace within the first half, knocked down consecutive triples to provide the Kiwis one other sizable lead, 35-26, within the second interval. Regardless of Brownlee’s efforts, he and Gilas couldn’t do a lot to sluggish a 17-6 run led by Mojave Jackson King, permitting New Zealand to take an enormous 55-37 lead.
The Filipinos hung robust, although, with June Mar Fajardo changing inside and Kevin Quiambao ending on the break to attain the final 4 factors of the half and reduce their deficit down, 55-41.
Brownlee and Ngatai every scored 19 factors by halftime, with the Tall Black taking pictures an ideal 6-of-6 from the sector, together with 4 threes, and 3-of-3 from the stripe. New Zealand as a crew shot 9-of-15 (60%) from 3 over the primary two durations in a blistering taking pictures show.
The Philippines obtained an enormous raise within the third as Brownlee and Ramos every scored 10 markers, together with all the factors in a 9-0 run that obtained Gilas again to inside 4 factors, 68-64, following a booming three from Brownlee.
Gilas closed the quarter down by simply six, 74-68, after outscoring the Tall Blacks, 27-19.
Regardless of New Zealand pushing the lead again as much as double figures, 81-70, Gilas continued to battle.
A 3-pointer from Brownlee on the 6:14 mark stored them inside putting distance, 81-75. Ramos scored a bucket that was quickly adopted by yet one more Brownlee triple — his seventh of the sport — because the Filipinos clawed again to inside three, 85-82, with 3:52 remaining.
However New Zealand obtained some large buckets from Britt down the stretch as they sealed the win.
Brownlee shot 12-of-19 (63.2%) from the sector and 7-of-12 (58.3%) from three in a terrific efficiency.
Ramos additionally got here up large for the Philippines, ending with 19 markers, 16 of which got here within the second half. June Mar Fajardo additionally reached double figures with 11 factors.
The Tall Blacks, although, simply had extra firepower. Apart from Ngatai and Britt, Cameron chipped in with 12 markers and King added 11. Darling and Tohi Smith-Milner additionally contributed eight factors apiece.
Gilas has yet another recreation within the group part, a matchup towards Iraq, which s additionally 0-2. New Zealand, in the meantime, faces Chinese language Taipei in a battle for the No. 1 spot within the group.
The scores:
New Zealand 94 – Ngatai 22, Britt 19, Cameron 12, King 11, Darling 8, Smith-Milner 8, Gold 6, Davison 5, Andrew 3, Murray 0.
Gilas Pilipinas 86 – Brownlee 37, Ramos 19, Fajardo 11, Newsome 8, Quiambao 5, Tamayo 4, Thompson 2, Edu 0, Oftana 0.
Quarters: 23-18, 55-41, 74-68, 94-86.
—JMB, GMA Built-in Information