Tall Blacks hand Gilas first loss of FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas’ furious fourth-quarter rally fell short as New Zealand escaped with a 69–66 victory to open the second window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena, Feb. 26.

The loss dropped the Philippines to 2–1 in Group A after an unbeaten first-round run, while the Tall Blacks improved to 1–2 for solo third place.

Gilas erased an 11-point deficit in the final period and had a chance to tie in the closing seconds, but Dwight Ramos’ contested 3-pointer at the buzzer rattled off the rim.

New Zealand appeared to have sealed the game when Reuben Te Rangi split a pair of free throws with seconds remaining to extend the lead to three. 

Ramos’ last-ditch attempt capped a night in which he scored 16 points but struggled with efficiency, shooting 6-of-21 from the field and 1-of-10 from beyond the arc.

The game turned decisively in the third quarter. 

After a 37-all deadlock at halftime, the Tall Blacks outscored Gilas 20–9 in the period, capitalizing on defensive breakdowns and transition opportunities to build a cushion the hosts could not fully erase.

New Zealand leaned on balance and poise down the stretch as Max Darling led the visitors with 11 points, while Sam Mennenga imposed his will inside with 10 points and 14 rebounds. 



Alex McNaught added 10 points, nine coming from long range, as the Tall Blacks won their seventh meeting in eight matchups against Gilas.

For the Philippines, CJ Perez provided an early spark in a surprise start, pouring in 10 of his 15 points in the opening quarter, attacking the paint and pressuring the rim.

But foul trouble slowed Perez after his first-quarter burst, and Gilas struggled to sustain offensive rhythm against New Zealand’s length and physicality.

Without 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto anchoring the paint, the Filipinos had difficulty matching the size of the Tall Blacks. 



New Zealand repeatedly targeted ball-screen coverage, drawing Gilas’ big men into drop situations and exploiting the space for pull-up jumpers and interior touches.

The rebounding disparity highlighted by Mennenga’s 14 boards underscored the impact of that size advantage.


Gilas’ defensive scheme placed pressure on perimeter defenders to chase shooters over screens.  The Tall Blacks found clean looks or forced help that opened driving lanes.

Still, Gilas showed resolve.

The Philippines next faces group leader Australia on March 1, also at Mall of Asia Arena.

 

The matchup marks the Boomers’ first visit to Manila since the teams’ infamous 2018 brawl during the previous World Cup qualifying cycle.