Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone and Kai Sotto through the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers sport vs New Zealand. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
Gilas Pilipinas’ seemingly countless years of torment by the hands of New Zealand lastly reached its decision on Thursday evening within the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers after a heart-stopping 93-89 triumph carved out earlier than practically 17,000 screaming souls at Mall of Asia Enviornment.
That confirmed how a lot this version of the Nationwide 5 has come since its debut final summer season. And what this workforce has to date finished is simply the tip of the proverbial iceberg for a program that has hit its stride currently.
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SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas at Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers
“We haven’t seen our greatest workforce but,” coach Tim Cone mentioned after the win only a few noticed coming. “We’ve been capable of beat the No. 6 workforce (Latvia within the Olympic qualifiers) and the No. 22 (in New Zealand).
“So we’re nonetheless attempting to see the place we will go and the way far we will go.”
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The following battle is not going to truly give the workforce the very best reply to that, however quite open up the prospect for Cone to have the ability to play his Nationals of lesser mild when the Filipinos battle Hong Kong to brush one more window and safe a berth to the primary event of the continental meet that will likely be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August subsequent 12 months.
Issues to handle
Justin Brownlee leads Gilas Pilipinas to a historic win over New Zealand within the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers at Mall of Asia Enviornment. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.web
“My hat is basically off to the gamers and to what they’ve been doing to get to this degree and to get so far,” Cone mentioned as he heaped reward on his fees, significantly Justin Brownlee, Kai Sotto and Scottie Thompson.
“I believe we ought to be all happy with them,” he mentioned.
There have been, nevertheless, some issues that Cone noticed in opposition to the Kiwis which he didn’t like, one thing for him to handle if he needs the Filipinos to maintain chopping down larger, heftier sides.
READ: Gilas not in ‘finest workforce’ type but even with win vs New Zealand
“The frustration tonight was that we did hand over 18 three-point photographs. We’ve to get higher at defending that,” he mentioned through the postgame presser.
Solely the steely resolve to win in opposition to the Tall Blacks—and be denied at residence as soon as once more—acquired the Nationals by means of.
“They had been 18-for-35 [from deep]. That’s unimaginable capturing. And so we acquired to tip our cap to them,” he mentioned of New Zealand. “[But] regardless of the unimaginable capturing, we had been nonetheless capable of win the sport. So once more, give credit score to our guys.”
Brownlee put up 26 factors that went with 11 rebounds and 4 assists, together with two steals and a pair of blocks. Sotto turned in his most interesting sport in a Gilas uniform with 19 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
Thompson chipped in 12 factors, 4 rebounds and 6 assists to go together with Chris Newsome’s 11 factors, which was capped by a dagger three-pointer that was touched off by a key cease that sealed the Philippines’ rise to 3-0 in Group B.
“I keep in mind this time—and I keep in mind this very distinctly—the place there was plenty of discuss Scottie [that he] can’t play within the worldwide sport,” Cone mentioned of Thompson, who was enjoying his first Gilas sport again after lacking the Olympic qualifiers again in July on account of a foul again.
“The factor with Scottie, you may take a look at the video all you need. However till you get to the ground and play in opposition to him, you don’t understand what he’s doing on the market on the ground for you.”
The match in opposition to Hong Kong is slated on Sunday, with the Filipinos out to duplicate a 30-point win the final time. And it could be fascinating to see how Gilas performs in opposition to a facet the place it’s the favourite.
