By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
When coach Tim Cone said the Filipinos just have to believe, it wasn’t just words.
That was a battle cry.
After eight dark years of being in New Zealand’s shadow, the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team finally broke their dry spell against the world no. 22 FIBA-ranked nation during their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers clash, 93-89, on November 21, 2024, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The historic win marked Gilas’ first-ever victory over New Zealand in any FIBA tournament setting and ended their four-game losing streak that dated back to 2016.
It wasn’t an easy feat to achieve for the brave Filipino hoopers as New Zealand spoiled their plan of a hot start after torching them in the three-point line.
Five demoralizing three-pointers early in the opening quarter steered New Zealand to a quick eight-point cushion, forcing a timeout called by Gilas mentor Tim Cone.
After Gilas settled down and adjusted in-game, the national team started to shake off their jitters in the final three minutes of the first frame.
Kai Sotto led the charge and energized Gilas with his tremendous plays down low, overpowering every New Zealand defender thrown at him.
It was probably Sotto’s best game donning the national team colors as the young and upcoming center pummeled New Zealand in the paint while providing the much-needed defensive anchor in the perimeter.
The game turned into a back-and-forth affair as New Zealand had some answers to every Gilas offensive run in the second period.
Just when New Zealand thought they could replicate their swing motion offense and wax hot from deep, coach Cone deployed a counter and dished out quick defensive helps in the elbows and the corners to prevent the visitors from gaining any rhythm from the rainbow country.
It was a battle between the deuces of Gilas and New Zealand’s three-point shooting but in the end, the Filipinos prevailed as Sotto, Justin Brownlee, Chris Newsome, and Dwight Ramos joined hands in the final crucial stretch of the fourth.
With Gilas only leading by a deuce in the last 2:39 of the game, Brownlee widened the gap with a pair of free throws but it was Newsome’s cold-blooded trey that sent New Zealand packing.
The superstar from the Meralco Bolts broke the hearts of the Kiwis after launching from way downtown that extended Gilas’ advantage to seven points, 91-84, with only 1:10 remaining in the game.
Sotto flourished in the win against New Zealand and pulled off an all-around outing of 19 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and two steals.
Meanwhile, Brownlee top-scored for the PHL national team after erupting for 26 markers built from an efficient 8/13 shooting from the field alongside four boards, two dimes, two interceptions, and two rejections.
