Philippines' Gilas team suffers defeat at the hands of the Tall Blacks in the Asia Cup.
GILAS Pilipinas Suffers Second Loss in FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Group Stage
In a tightly contested match, New Zealand emerged victorious over GILAS Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 group stage on August 8, 2025. The final score was New Zealand 94, GILAS Pilipinas 86.
Justin Brownlee led GILAS Pilipinas with an impressive 37 points, while Dwight Ramos contributed 19 points. June Mar Fajardo added 11 points and 4 rebounds to the team's total.
On the other hand, New Zealand's Jordan Ngatai had a stellar performance, scoring 22 points, all of them from beyond the arc, with a perfect 5-of-5 three-point shooting. Taylor Britt also played a crucial role, scoring 19 points, including back-to-back baskets that sealed their victory.
New Zealand shot an impressive 50% from beyond the arc in the match (13-of-26), and they dominated the rebounds with a total of 41 compared to GILAS Pilipinas' 33.
Despite a strong comeback from an 18-point deficit, GILAS Pilipinas fell short as New Zealand managed to maintain their lead till the end. This loss puts GILAS Pilipinas at a 0-2 record in the group stage.
With their next match against Iraq, GILAS Pilipinas needs a win to stay in contention for a quarterfinal berth via the third-place playoff in Group D. The team will be looking to bounce back and secure a much-needed victory to keep their hopes alive in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
[1] FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Group Stage Results [2] GILAS Pilipinas Stats in FIBA Asia Cup 2025 [3] New Zealand Stats in FIBA Asia Cup 2025
Despite the loss, GILAS Pilipinas showcased their skills in basketball, with Justin Brownlee making the Philippines proud with his 37 points. However, the NBA's influence was evident in New Zealand's dominating performance, as Taylor Britt and Jordan Ngatai each scored 19 points, with Ngatai's all coming from three-point shots.
