Romwel Anzures

Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos in action in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup against New Zealand. Photo from FIBA Baksetball.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754585514189IMG_7949.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos in action in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup against New Zealand. Photo from FIBA Baksetball."/>Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos in action in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup against New Zealand. Photo from FIBA Basketball.</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — Gilas Pilipinas has dug itself into a deeper hole in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup after its comeback bid fell short.The Nationals dropped their second straight game after it faltered against the hot-shooting New Zealand, 94-86, at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, early Friday morning (Manila time).“We’re disappointed that we lost two in a row. I don’t think we all saw that coming,” admitted Tim Cone after the game. “We’re obviously struggling in the first halves, and we couldn’t just get over the hump.”Justin Brownlee had a game-high 37-point outing with five points and three assists, Dwight Ramos finished with 19 — 16 of which came in their second-half charge — while Fajardo tallied 11 markers with four boards and a steal.Unfortunately, these all went for naught as Gilas is now 0-2 in Group D, tied with Iraq. The Philippines now needs to defeat Iraq on Saturday, August 9, at 4:00 p.m., to advance to the quarterfinals.Gilas showed promising signs after the first period as they were only trailing by five, but it was in the second frame when the Tall Blacks flexed their form from inside and out.In a blistering second quarter performance, the Tall Blacks shot 9-of-15 from three-point range and took advantage of Gilas in the paint, converting 55% of their two-point field goals. New Zealand would then lead by as many as 18 points due to this. The Philippines, however, managed to cut their deficit to a single possession later on, 85-82, all thanks to Ramos finding his groove in the third period as well as Brownlee’s heroics.However, the Tall Blacks rediscovered their footing just in time to fend off the Filipinos in the last canto.Taylor Britt made two straight baskets just as Gilas was knocking on their door, with the latter being a tough lay-in off a costly Ramos turnover, while Tohi Smith-Milner split at the foul line with only 1:23 left in the game, extending NZ’s lead to eight, 90-82.Brownlee had one last chance to close in on their opponents with still 51 seconds remaining all thanks to an and-one opportunity, but he missed his shot at the foul line and settled for a 90-84 score.Doubling down on Gilas’ woes, Britt made another basket inside, while Mojave King iced the game with a pair of free-throw makes with only 12 seconds left. New Zealand shot 13-of-26 from three-point range at the end of the contest, and they also outrebounded the Philippines, 41-33 (8-6 off).Jordan Ngatai led NZ with 22 points on 5-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, while Britt followed with 19 markers and seven assists. <div> </div><div>The Scores: </div>New Zealand 94 — Ngatai 22, Britt 19, Cameron 12,  King 11, Smith-Milner 8, Darling 8, Gold 6, C Davison 5, Andrew 3, Murray 0.Gilas Pilipinas 86 — Brownlee 37, Ramos 19, Fajardo 11, Newsome 8, Quiambao 5, Tamayo 4, Thompson 2, Edu 0, Oftana 0.Quarterscores: 23-18, 55-41, 74-68, 94-86.

Gilas Pilipinas has dug itself into a deeper hole in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup after its comeback bid fell short.

Gilas Pilipinas has dug itself into a deeper hole in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup after its comeback bid fell short.

FIBA: Gilas drops 2nd straight game as comeback vs. New Zealand falls short

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FIBA: Gilas drops 2nd straight game as comeback vs. New Zealand falls short

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 08, 2025 12:58 AM PHT

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Updated August 08, 2025 01:45 AM PHT

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Basketball

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2025 FIBA Asia Cup

Gilas Pilipinas

Tim Cone

Justin Brownlee

Dwight Ramos

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