Gilas FIBA Campaign Hits Rocky Road After Loss to New Zealand
Photo: FIBA
Gilas now finds itself in a tricky position for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, dropping to an 0-2 record after a tough 94-86 loss to New Zealand. Despite a resilient fourth-quarter surge, the Filipinos fell short, leaving their gold medal hopes hanging by a a very loose thread.
Brownlee’s Heroics Not Enough for Gilas
Justin Brownlee once again carried the load, delivering 37 points on efficient 12-of-19 shooting. His clutch shots kept Gilas alive every time New Zealand, who led by as much as 18, threatened to pull away further, repeatedly bailing out the offense when it stagnated. Dwight Ramos also stepped up, contributing 19 points with a mix of drives and pull-ups. Together, they provided the spark, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap, especially without significant help from anybody else on the team.
Defensive Woes and Tactical Struggles
The defense showed moments of life, especially in the second half when they limited New Zealand to just 37 points after surrendering 55 in the first 20 minutes. However, the overall defensive effort was lacking consistency. Gilas allowed far too many uncontested looks from deep, as New Zealand knocked down 13 of 26 three-pointers (48.5%), a trend that has plagued the team since their send-off game at home against Macau.
Coach Tim Cone admitted that the team struggled against ball screen actions, which targeted star big man June Mar Fajardo, forcing adjustments such as a sequence of zone defenses. But defensive rotations faltered repeatedly, especially in slip vs. the switch schemes, leading to too many easy baskets in the paint and costly turnovers at critical moments.
Offensive Struggles and Foul Trouble
Offensively, Gilas played too slow for long stretches, hampered by poor spacing and a lack of penetration. Cone’s frustration was evident when he urged his players to “Move the fucking ball” in the first quarter, criticizing their tendency to settle for quick three-point attempts rather than attacking the rim. The team committed 15 fouls, gifting New Zealand 17 of 21 free throws—a costly factor in a close game.
New Zealand’s Taylor Britt proved to be a key difference-maker with 19 points and 7 assists, his aggressive drives halting Gilas’ momentum during crucial runs. The Kiwis also dominated the glass (41-33), outscored Gilas in the paint (38-30), and held a big advantage in bench points (28-11).
The Road Ahead for Gilas: Must-Win vs. Iraq
With two losses, Gilas Pilipinas now faces a must-win showdown against Iraq to keep hopes alive for the playoff round and a shot at the quarterfinals. Coach Cone remains cautiously optimistic:
“Disappointed that we lost 2 in a row. We didn’t see that. I don’t think we all saw that coming. We’re disappointed, but the tournament’s not over for us. We have a big game against Iraq coming up and see if we can get into the next round.”
A Proud Crowd, A Proud Team
Despite the struggles on the court, the passionate support from the sizable Filipino crowd in Saudi Arabia was undeniable, at times feeling like a home game. The spirit of representing the Philippines remains strong — a reminder that this team fights not just for wins, but for the pride of a nation.
Now, if only the results can follow.
