Gilas absorbs first loss in World Cup qualifiers as comeback falls short vs New Zealand

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas scored a breakthrough win the last time it hosted New Zealand. A repeat home win, however, was not simply meant to be.

The Philippines saw its fourth-quarter comeback fall short against the visiting Tall Blacks, 69-66, in the first of its two-game homestand in the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, February 26.

Dwight Ramos finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals, hitting key buckets in a late fightback that saw the Nationals inch within a single possession after trailing by as many as 10 points in the final period only to witness New Zealand hold on. 

From down 53-63, the Filipinos clawed their way back and cut their deficit to 64-66 off a Ramos three-pointer with under a minute to play.

But New Zealand escaped off a Yanni Wetzel bucket and a Reuben Te Rangi free throw as time ran out on the hosts, with Ramos missing a desperate heave from half court.

The Philippines badly missed the usual production of naturalized star Justin Brownlee, who found no answers to the Tall Blacks’ suffocating defense and double-teaming. 

Averaging 21.0 points in the Philippines’ two-game sweep of Guam in the opening window, Brownlee finished with just 4 points on a paltry 2-of-9 clip. 

CJ Perez backstopped Ramos with 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. 

The loss marked the Philippines’ third straight loss to New Zealand after the Filipinos beat the Tall Blacks for the first time in FIBA play by way of a 93-89 win in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in 2022.

Falling to 2-1 in Group A, Gilas Pilipinas hopes to bounce back against unbeaten Australia on Sunday, March 1, at the same venue. – Rappler.com