Gilas Pilipinas mounted a spirited comeback but fell just short, losing 69-66 to New Zealand in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Philippines entered the fourth quarter trailing by double digits but cut the deficit to two points in the final minute, giving the Kiwis a tense finish.
Dwight Ramos led Gilas with 16 points and eight rebounds, scoring five crucial points late, though his potential game-tying shot at the buzzer missed.
CJ Perez added 15 points, while Juan Gomez de Liano chipped in 10. AJ Edu contributed only five points but made a strong impact with 11 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks.
New Zealand held a 57-46 lead entering the final quarter, but Gilas responded with a 7-0 run capped by a Ramos three-pointer, trimming the margin to 66-64 with 47 seconds left. Yanni Wetzell’s putback and Reuben Te Rangi’s free throw sealed the win for the visitors.
Max Darling paced New Zealand with 11 points, while Alex McNaught and Sam Mennenga added 10 apiece.
CJ Perez opened the game hot, scoring all of Gilas’ points in a 10-5 run, but New Zealand countered with strong stretches in the first and third quarters.
Gilas tied the game 37-37 at halftime after a 10-0 rally, but the Kiwis’ decisive 20-4 surge in the third proved pivotal.
Justin Brownlee struggled, finishing with four points on 2-of-10 shooting. Despite the loss, Gilas showed resilience in the closing minutes, keeping fans hopeful for the remainder of the qualifiers.