Gilas Pilipinas now 0-2 in FIBA Asia Cup after 94-86 loss to New Zealand

Gilas Pilipinas was unable to recover from their opening-day defeat, falling to New Zealand, 94-86, in the FIBA Asia Cup on Thursday (early Friday, Philippine time) at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

 The loss drops the Nationals to 0-2, placing them in a must-win situation against Iraq on Saturday, August 9, to keep their hopes of advancing to the next round alive.

Despite the setback, Justin Brownlee delivered a standout performance under the bright lights, finishing with a game-high 37 points, along with five rebounds and three assists. Dwight Ramos added 16 markers, while veteran center and eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo contributed 11 points.

Ramos, in particular, came alive in the second half, scoring 16 of his 19 points during Gilas’ spirited comeback attempt. His offensive surge, combined with Brownlee’s steady production, helped the Filipinos trim an 18-point deficit to just three by the end of the third quarter.

However, the Tall Blacks proved too much down the stretch. New Zealand regained control in the final period, closing out strong to secure the win and hand Gilas their second straight defeat.

Coach Tim Cone acknowledges the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s disappointment after back-to-back losses but emphasizes the importance of staying focused as they prepare for their next Group D matchup against Iraq in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.#OSOnTheSpot #GilasPilipinas #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/Uewxz97mpb

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) August 7, 2025

New Zealand’s sharp shooting made the difference—they buried 13 of their 26 three-point attempts and controlled the boards with a 41-33 rebounding advantage, including an 8-6 edge on the offensive glass.

Jordan Ngatai led the Kiwis with 22 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. Taylor Britt backed him up with 19 points and seven assists, helping keep the Philippines at bay whenever they threatened to take over.

The second quarter proved decisive. New Zealand caught fire, shooting 9-of-15 from deep while converting 55% of their two-point attempts, allowing them to build a lead that stretched to 18 points at one stage.

After the game, Gilas head coach Tim Cone didn’t hide his disappointment: “We’re disappointed that we lost two in a row. I don’t think we all saw that coming,” he admitted. “We’re obviously struggling in the first halves, and we couldn’t just get over the hump.”

With their backs now against the wall, Gilas Pilipinas must regroup quickly as they face Iraq in a do-or-die showdown—one that will determine whether their Asia Cup campaign continues or comes to an early end.

The Scores: 

New Zealand 94 — Ngatai 22, Britt 19, Cameron 12,  King 11, Smith-Milner 8, Darling 8, Gold 6, C 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.

Quarterscores: 23-18, 55-41, 74-68, 94-86.

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