Gilas Pilipinas finally scored a breakthrough against New Zealand, 93-89, to extend its unbeaten record in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers Thursday night.
Justine Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, and big man Kai Sotto put together a backbreaking 16-0 run in the third period to turn the game around and pulled off the stirring win before a huge crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Brownlee, 36, finished with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds; the 7-foot-3 Sotto had a near triple double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists; and Thompson with 12 and six rebounds in the win that put a stop to the Philippines’ eight-year, four-game losing streak against the Tall Blacks.
“It’s a tough one. They (Tall Blacks) are good, they are really good. They are incredibly physical and I think that’s the no. 1 thing we have to battle through,” said national team coach Tim Cone in the post-game presser.
The Filipinos are now at solo no. 1 in Group B with a 3-0 record, while the Tall Blacks fell to a 2-1 record.
They can formally clinched a spot in the Asia Cup proper with another win against winless Hong Kong on Sunday also at the same Pasay venue.
Until that game-changing run by the home team, the Tall Blacks had everything under control and were still on top, 60-56.
“So to overcome that and to find a way to win was really special. Special because of our home court, our home crowd, and the people watching,” said Cone. “There were a lot of attention on the game and our game were, you know, pressured to win. And they found a way. And I’m proud of them.”
But the visiting team, which led by as many as 13-4 early in the first quarter, had a lot of fight left even after Gilas took a 72-60 edge during the height of its scoring run.
The Tall Blacks were still within 91-89 on a three pointer by former Converge import Tom Vodanovich with 20 seconds left, before Brownlee sealed the deal with two insurance free throws.
Former NBA player Corey Webster led New Zealand with 25 points, but only had two in the final quarter. He did finish on a 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, while adding five assists.
Vodanovich added 19 (5-of-7 from long range), ditto with Sam Waardenburg. (PBA)
The scores:
Gilas Pilipinas (93) — Brownlee 26, Sotto 19, Thompson 12, Newsome 11, Ramos 11, Fajardo 6, Perez 3, Oftana 3, Tamayo 2, Aguilar 0.
New Zealand (89) — Webster 25, Vodanovich 19, Waardenburg 19, Britt 8, Le’afa 6, Brown 5, Harris 3, Cameron 2, Harrison 2.
Quarterscores: 20-22; 45-45; 72-63; 93-89.