MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas fell short in a hard-fought battle against New Zealand, losing 69-66 in their FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game Summary:
- The Result: After a tied score at halftime, the Philippines trailed by as much as 11 points in the second half. A late-game rally led by CJ Perez and Dwight Ramos brought the Filipinos within striking distance, but a potential game-tying three-pointer by Ramos missed at the buzzer.
- Top Performers:
- Dwight Ramos: 16 points and 8 rebounds.
- CJ Perez: 15 points.
- Justin Brownlee: Limited to a career-low 4 points in a Gilas jersey.
- Standings: The Philippines now holds a 2-1 record in Group A.
Coach Tim Cone’s Reaction:
Coach Tim Cone expressed disappointment, stating there were “no silver linings” in the loss. “We showed up to win, and we didn’t do that,” he said, emphasizing that the team must work “doubly hard” for their next assignment.
The Next Challenge: Australia (Sunday)
The defeat sets the stage for a highly anticipated and historically charged matchup against Australia this Sunday.
- History: This marks the first time the Australian Boomers will play in the Philippines since the infamous “Basketbrawl” incident in July 2018 at the Philippine Arena.
- Tensions: While former SBP President Al Panlilio stated that both sides have “moved on,” Australian media outlets have recently revisited the 2018 brawl, labeling the upcoming game “Basketbrawl 2.0.”
- The Boomers: Australia enters the game as the favorite with a perfect 3-0 record, coming off a 93-80 victory over Guam.