Tall Blacks survive late Gilas fightback

New Zealand handed Gilas Pilipinas its first defeat in the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, edging them out 69-66 in the opening match of the second window on Thursday night.

Trailing by as much as 11 points heading into the final quarter, the national team mounted a formidable comeback that electrified the sold-out crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena. A pivotal layup by Dwight Ramos with just eight seconds remaining closed the gap to 68-66, reigniting the hopes of the home fans.

The opportunity for a dramatic finish remained alive when New Zealand’s Reuben Te Rangi managed only one free throw, allowing the visitors to hold a narrow three-point advantage.

However, Ramos’ last-ditch effort fell short, sealing the Philippines’ winning streak, which came to a halt in this hard-fought contest.

Despite the loss, Gilas remains in second place with a 2-1 record, trailing the undefeated Australia, who earlier overcame a tenacious Guam squad with a score of 93-80, solidifying their lead in Group A with a perfect 3-0 mark.

The Tall Blacks finally found their rhythm after two consecutive losses to the Boomers, with Max Darling leading the charge, contributing 11 points, while Alex McNaught added 10 points, showcasing an impressive 3-of-4 accuracy from the three-point line.

Sam Mennenga further solidified New Zealand’s dominance with a double-double performance, tallying 10 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.

For Gilas, naturalized player Justin Brownlee struggled against New Zealand’s tight defense, but Ramos stepped up, leading the team with 16 points. CJ Perez also made a significant contribution, scoring 15 points, including 10 in a blazing first quarter that set the tone for the home side.

Brownlee, now 37, was limited to just four points on 2-of-10 shooting but contributed six rebounds and two assists to the effort.

Guard Juan Gomez De Liano made a modest return to the Gilas lineup, finishing with 10 points and two assists.

Gilas is set to return to action on Sunday, where they will face off against Australia once again at the MoA Arena.

The scores:

New Zealand (69) — Darling 11, Mennenga 10, McNaught 10, Harrison 9, Te Rangi 7, Davison 5, Britt 5, Wetzell 4, Ngatai 3, Murray 3, Smith-Milner 2, Rasmussen 0.

Philippines (66) — Ramos 16, Perez 15, Gomez de Liano 10, Millora-Brown 7, Edu 5, Brownlee 4, Tamayo 3, Oftana 3, Quiambao 2, Thompson 1, Newsome 0, Fajardo 0.

Quarters: 25-21; 37-37; 57-46; 69-66.