Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone and Kai Sotto during the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifier match against New Zealand. –Marlo Cueto/INQUIRER.net
Gilas Pilipinas’ endless years of suffering at the hands of New Zealand ended Thursday after a heart-wrenching 93-89 victory in front of some 17,000 screaming souls at the Mall of Asia Arena. On the night of , a solution was finally reached in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers.
This shows how much this edition of the National Five has evolved since its debut last summer. And what this team has accomplished thus far is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg for a program that has made strides in recent years.
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Schedule: Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers
“We haven’t seen the best team yet,” coach Tim Cone said after the win. “We were able to beat the 6th place team (Olympic qualifier Latvia) and the 22nd place team (New Zealand).
“So we’re still figuring out how far we can go and how far we can go.”
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The next battle doesn’t actually give the team the best answer for it, but rather for Cone as the Filipinos fight against Hong Kong to win yet another spot and secure their spot in the league. That would open up a chance for him to play for the weaker Nationals. The main event of the continental tournament will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in August next year.
Matters to be addressed
Justin Brownlee led Gilas Pilipinas to a historic victory over New Zealand in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena. –Marlo Cueto/INQUIREr.net
“I really tip my hat to the players and what they’ve done to get to this level and get here,” Cone said, especially of his players Justin Brownlee, Kai Sotto and Scottie Thompson. praised.
“I think we should all be proud of them,” he said.
However, there were a few things Coach Cone didn’t like about the Kiwis game that needed to be addressed if he wanted the Filipinos to continue chopping down big, heavy sides.
Read: Gilas still not in ‘best team’ form despite win against New Zealand
“What was disappointing tonight was we allowed 18 3-pointers. We’ve got to defend it better,” he said in the postgame press conference.
Only steely determination to beat the Tall Blacks and be denied again at home got the Nationals through.
“They were 35-18. [from deep]. That’s an incredible shot. That’s why we had to give them the utmost respect,” he said of New Zealand. “[But] Despite the unbelievable shooting, we still managed to win the game. So, once again, please give credit to our colleagues. ”
Brownlee had 26 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Sotto had his best game in a Gilas uniform with 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Thompson had 12 points, four rebounds and six assists, following Chris Newsome’s 11 points, culminating with a dagger 3-pointer that touched off on a key stop to lift the Philippines to 3-0 in Group B.
“I remember this time, and I remember it very clearly, there was a lot of talk about Scotty. [that he] He won’t be able to play internationally,” Cohn said of Thompson.
“With Scotty, you can watch as much video as you want, but until you get on the floor and play against him, you don’t know what he’s doing on the floor.”
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The game against Hong Kong is scheduled for Sunday, with the Filipinos eliminated in a bid to repeat their previous win of 30 points. And it will be interesting to see how Gilas plays against a team that is a championship favorite.
