LIVE: Gilas Pilipinas vs New Zealand at 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers

• Gilas Pilipinas ends the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers with two straight losses in the third window after going 4-0 last year in the first two windows.
• The Filipinos are headed to the Fiba Asia Cup in August with a 4-2 record in the qualifying and the second seed in Group B. New Zealand (5-1) tops the group.

HIGHLIGHTS: Gilas Pilipinas vs New Zealand

Gilas’ Doha trip ‘probably hurt more than helped,’ says Tim Cone

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas’ packed schedule before the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers’ third window may have done more harm than good for Tim Cone’s squad, as far as the road stretch was concerned.

And he admitted as much after the Filipinos dropped two away games against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand and lost their grip on the top spot of Group B.

“We were able to do a Doha trip before we came here just to try and get more time together and play more games but it probably hurt us more than it helped us in terms of being ready for Taiwan and New Zealand,” admitted Cone after their 87-70 loss at the hands of the Tall Blacks at Spark Arena in Auckland on Sunday.

Gilas has to be better on defense from the get-go, says Newsome

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas took on a New Zealand side that fired on all cylinders from the get-go  in their rematch in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.

The Filipinos faltered in locking down the home bets as early as the first quarter, where the Kiwis buried them early and zoomed to a 30-15 lead

“For us, we just have to do better defensively in starting games,” said guard Chris Newsome following their 87-70 loss at Spark Arena in Auckland on Sunday morning (Manila time).

Tim Cone laments Gilas’ poor first quarter in loss to New Zealand

MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas got caught in a whirlwind of offense from New Zealand in its last game of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

But it was also its poor start that spelled the Filipinos’ doom, allowing the Kiwis to pull away and forcing the visitors to once again play catch up just like their match against Chinese Taipei a days ago.

“They came out and smashed us early. [They] gave us smashmouth in the first quarter and we just never recovered,” said Cone after their 87-70 loss at the hands of New Zealand at Spark Arena in Auckland on Sunday.

Gilas ends Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers with big loss to New Zealand

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.

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.

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.

LIVE UPDATES: Gilas Pilipinas vs New Zealand

FOURTH QUARTER

• FINAL SCORE: Gilas Pilipinas loses big to New Zealand, 87-70, on the road to wrap up its Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers campaign.
• 7-0 run for New Zealand to get back the momentum for an 83-66 lead, 4:14 to play.
• Momentum-busting long 2 by Corey Webster. New Zealand 79, Gilas 66. 5:56 left.
• Gilas Pilipinas slowly closing in on New Zealand with over 6 minutes to play. New Zealand lead down to 9 after a 7-0 run capped by a basket by Brownlee!
• Calvin Oftana with his second 3 of the game. Gilas looking to come alive here in the fourth, trims the New Zealand lead to 77-62.

THIRD QUARTER

• END OF THIRD: Gilas Pilipinas 55, New Zealand 74.
• AJ Edu connects on a 3 from the right wing! He has 7 points so far in his best game yet here in the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.
• June Mar Fajardo misses both his freethrows. New Zealand holds on to. 72-52 lead at the tail end of the third.
• Calvin Oftana knocks down a rare 3 for Gilas, which still trails 72-48. 4:10 on the clock.
• New Zealand pushes its lead to 67-39 with 6:21 in the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

• Gilas Pilipinas scorers so far: Justin Brownlee 8, June Mar Fajardo 7, Dwight Ramos and Chris Newsome 5 points each.
• AT THE HALF: Gilas Pilipinas staring at a 20-point deficit against the Kiwis, 53-33.
• Justin Brownlee ends drought for Gilas 47-33 with a much-needed layup with 3:08 on the clock.
• Gilas Pilipinas struggling to make its shots here in the second quarter while Taylor Britt makes back to back jumpers for New Zealand.
• New Zealand lead back to double digits after 5 straight points from Tohi Smith-Milner, 43-29, 5:02.
• Carl Tamayo splits his freethrows. Gilas Pilipinas 27, New Zealand 37.
• Gilas Pilipinas cutes into New Zealand lead 34-23 after a Calvin Oftana fadeaway.

FIRST QUARTER

• END OF FIRST: New Zealand 30, Gilas Pilipinas 15.
• New Zealand opens an 18-9 lead midway through the opening quarter after another 3 from Tohi Smith-Milner.
• So far, Justin Brownlee and Dwight Ramos accounting for all of Gilas’ 9 points.
• Dwight Ramos trims early New Zealand lead to 8-7 with 8:19 in the opening quarter.
• Tohi Smith-Milner gives New Zealand a 3-0 start.
• Gilas Pilipinas Starting 5: Scottie Thompson, June Mar Fajardo, Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao and Justin Brownlee.
• Both teams on the floor at Spark Arena in Auckland for the shootarounds.

Where to watch Gilas vs New Zealand: online, TV

Fans can watch Gilas Pilipinas’ rematch against New Zealand on Sunday via various platforms.

The game will air live on RPTV, a free TV service, PBA Rush, One Sportsand One Sports+. It will also air online on Pilipinas Live, a subscription-based streaming platform.

Gilas out to finish strong against Kiwis

Still reeling from a stunning loss from three nights ago, Gilas Pilipinas braces for an even tougher challenge when it battles a New Zealand team itching for payback on Sunday as both end the third and final window of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

National coach Tim Cone swiftly put the 91-84 loss to host Chinese Taipei last Thursday night behind, rallying his charges to go out with a bang against the Tall Blacks in a return match at Spark Arena in Auckland slated at 10 a.m. (Manila time).

“It was really disappointing, but there’s not much we can do about it at this point,” Cone said. “We got to finish this trip and try to finish it strong. We’re going to play a tougher New Zealand team, so somehow we’re going to have to figure out a way to put all this behind us and move forward.

Same Gilas 12 vs New Zealand in Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers

• Japeth Aguilar
• Justin Brownlee
• AJ Edu
• June Mar Fajardo
• Jamie Malonzo
• Chris Newsome
• Calvin Oftana
• CJ Perez
• Kevin Quiambao
• Dwight Ramos
• Carl Tamayo
• Scottie Thompson

MANILA, Philippines—Coach Tim Cone is sticking with the same group that went to battle against Chinese Taipei when Gilas Pilipinas faces New Zealand in their last game of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers Sunday.

On the eve of Gilas’ clash with the Kiwis, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced that there will be no changes in the lineup.

Loss to Taiwanese adds meaning to Gilas-New Zealand duel

Gilas Pilipinas hurtles toward what was initially a nonbearing game whose only value was to afford the Nationals some sort of bragging rights and serve a tuneup ahead of the Fiba Asia Cup’s flagship event in Saudi Arabia in six months.

But the return match against New Zealand this Sunday in Auckland has become a high-stakes clash as the two nations break their 4-1 tie for the Group B lead, which also ultimately awards the winner a favorable draw in the continental meet in Jeddah this August.

The Filipinos missed cornerstone Kai Sotto in the 91-84 shock loss to Chinese Taipei at Taipei Heping Stadium, as Gilas struggled to find another reliable source of production outside naturalized ace Justin Brownlee and another young pillar in Dwight Ramos.

Justin Brownlee masterclass goes down the drain in Gilas loss

MANILA, Philippines—Thursday night was supposed to be another feather added to Justin Brownlee’s cap.

Instead, he watched his stellar night go down the drain as Chinese Taipei subdued Gilas Pilipinas, 91-84, at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.

Brownlee tipped his hat to the Taiwan for sticking through their game plan and notching a win in the third window of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers Window 3

February 23, Sunday – Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand

• 10am (3pm NZ time) – Australia vs Gilas Pilipinas

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