Gilas falls to New Zealand in 2OT thriller in FIBAWC Asian Qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas appeared poised after forcing a second overtime period but unraveled to host New Zealand’s stirring comeback and absorbed a 106–102 loss in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers at the Spark Arena, Auckland, July 3.

Playing without naturalized star Justin Brownlee, the Filipinos held a four-point lead late before New Zealand unleashed a decisive finishing run, handing Gilas its third loss of the tournament.

The defeat also extended Gilas’ losing streak against the Tall Blacks to three games, with the Philippine’s lone victory against New Zealand still coming in November 2024.

Showing a lifeline for the Tim Cone-mentored squad were Juan Gomez de Liaño and Kevin Quiambao after racking 23 points apiece, while Dwight Ramos added 18.

“We had chances in regulation and in both overtimes to win that basketball game, and we just came up short. The bottom line was our guys came to play,” Cone admitted in a postgame interview.

Trailing 80–83 in the closing ticks of regulation, de Liaño stepped up big and drilled the clutch from the rainbow country to force overtime. 

The University of the Philippines product then continued his heroics in the first extra period with another triple to push Gilas ahead.

New Zealand, however, had other plans in mind. 

The black-clad troopers slowly crawled their way back on the scoreboard through multiple freebies before Shea Ili found another 1-of-2 trip to the line to seal the hard-fought win.

Meanwhile, Reuben Te Rangi proved to be the hero for Kiwis with his 22-point output, while Sam Waardenburg and Ili added another double-digit performance to advance in the second round of the tourney.

Hoping to groove back with victory, Gilas is set to refine their gears as they take Australia on July 6.