Gilas Pilipinas has officially clinched a berth in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, following New Zealand’s decisive 81-64 victory over Chinese Taipei in Monday’s qualifiers match.
The victory by the Tall Blacks ensured the Philippines, currently undefeated with a 4-0 record in Group B, an automatic spot in the tournament scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, next year.
New Zealand’s Key Players
Former Converge import Thomas Vodanovich led New Zealand with 11 points, five rebounds, and two steals, while Corey Webster, who scored 25 points against the Philippines in an earlier game, added nine markers in this match.
Qualification Despite Pending Games
Even with their perfect record, Gilas Pilipinas needed to wait for the New Zealand-Chinese Taipei result to confirm their qualification. However, despite the guaranteed slot, the team will still compete in the third and final qualifiers window in February.