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Captain Lemerica
29-Nov-2024 12:48
Gilas Pilipinas edges New Zealand Tall Blacks in thrilling FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifier.

**Manila, Philippines** – The Mall of Asia Arena witnessed a real nail-biting game as Gilas Pilipinas outgunned the New Zealand Tall Blacks in a close battle. This match gave Gilas Pilipinas an upper hand in their drive to clinch a final ticket for this season's FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers on November 21, 2024, 7:30 PM. Truly, the final score of 93-89 reflected the intense battle that went on throughout the game, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

The match was a back-and-forth affair from start to finish as the two teams traded blows throughout the contest. New Zealand got off on a strong footing, taking a 22-20 lead after the first quarter proved to be a close contest as Tall Blacks got the edge over Gilas 22-20. The good start by New Zealand came from the dynamism of Taylor Britt and Walter Brown, who showed glimpses of offense early on. Gilas responded with a very intentional attitude through the steadiness of Chris Newsome and the towering presence of Kai Sotto.

The second quarter had a swing in momentum in favor of Gilas, which responded well in the second quarter, outscoring New Zealand 25-23 to tie it at 45-45 at halftime. Scottie Thompson was so aggressive on both ends of the floor, and his passing was indeed something impressive in igniting the Gilas offense, with New Zealand struggling in bringing back their momentum when they gained the early lead they had. Their offenses were getting more motionless as the quarter went by.

The Gilas men blitzed their third quarter, outscoring the Tall Blacks 27-18 to take a 72-63 With their Filipino team facing a late surge from the Tall Blacks, they stuck it out and consolidated their lead into a comfortable margin. Naturalized player Justin Brownlee proved to be the paint force, scorching it with his scoring and defensive tenacity.

The final quarter was a tense affair, as the Tall Blacks made a spirited effort at closing the gap. New Zealand refused to go down without a fight, outscoring Gilas 26-21 in the fourth quarter, making the game a nail-biter. Veteran speaks Tall Black Corey Webster led the charge, showing off his scoring ability and experience, but Gilas showed nerve, outscoring New Zealand 21-26 in the final frame to secure the win.
Gilas managed to hold on for the victory at the end, all because of the superlative effort of Justin Brownlee, who helped lead the team with 26 points and 11 Rebounds. Kai Sotto went along with the same effort with 10 rebounds and 7 assists, for a very complete performance.

**Key Moments: **

What would finally make the difference would be the pin-point offense of Gilas, most importantly led by Justin Brownlee. That strong third quarter has made the difference as it sealed the victory against the Kiwis.
**Late Surge of New Zealand: ** The Tall Blacks had a tough comeback against Gilas by continuously pressuring Gilas in the last quarter. The intense effort brought them closer to a very almost winning game.
**Chris Newsome Service for the Gillas Team: ** Chris Newsome was decisive in the win for the Gilas team as he portrayed shooting, rebounding skills, and playmaking on the field with strong clutch plays that closed the game.

**Forward: **

Gilas Pilipinas inquest towards FIBA Asia Cup qualification has to be secured. The team needs a boost to maintain this streak and stay at this momentum in their subsequent qualifying matches. 

**Gilas Pilipinas Performance Review: **

* Quarter 1: 20 points
* Quarter 2: 25 points
* Quarter 3: 27 points
* Quarter 4: 21 points
**Total: ** 93 points

**New Zealand's Game Break Down: **

* **Quarter 1: ** 22 points
* **Quarter 2: ** 23 points
* **Quarter 3: ** 18 points
Quarter 4: 26 points
Total: 89 points

Key Players:

Gilas Pilipinas: Individuals who stood out the most for Gilas' win were Chris Newsome, Scottie Thompson, Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, and Justin Brownlee. Some of the important factors that convinced them to win include leadership and scoring for Newsome, relentless hustle by Thompson, dominance in the paint by Sotto, perimeter shooting by Ramos, and all-around brilliance by Brownlee.
* **New Zealand Tall Blacks: ** Taylor Britt, Walter Brown, Corey Webster, Sam Wardenburg, and Tyrell Harrison gave it their all for the Tall Blacks. Britt's early scoring, Brown's contributions on offense, Webster's leadership as one of the few veterans, Wardenburg's defense, and Harrison's energy kept the game close.
What's Next:

This win is a good sign for Gilas Pilipinas as it pushes forward for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 slot. The excitement it brings does not only go to the team but to every Filipino who wishes to see their countrymen making waves in the international arena. On the other side of the court, New Zealand Tall Blacks can look forward to bouncing back from this defeat and also fight for another seat in the Asia Cup.

**Fan Reactions: **

The nation erupted in jubilation among Filipino basketball fans as they tweeted about the exciting performance of the national team. The trending #LabanPilipinas trended on the popular social networking site, where fans pledged their support and boasted of the performance of the national team for the FIBA Asia Cup qualification.

This win by Gilas Pilipinas proves how hard, dedicated, and resilient they are. It has proven that they could indeed countertop teams in Asia and ready to make a strong run into the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Qualifier battle between Gilas Pilipinas and the New Zealand Tall Blacks in FIBA Asia Cup 2025 would surely be electrifying and showcase much toil and effort from the duo of teams. Victory for Gilas Pilipinas proves that they indeed put it all out there, but in turn, the Tall Blacks shall sort their things out and push hard to the finish. This was one match that reminded everyone of how much passion basketball brings to the court and justifies the importance of such experience for fans.
Gilas Pilipinas
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Good luck, Gilas Pilipinas! 💗
Good luck, Gilas Pilipinas! 💗
Goodluck Gilas!
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Goodluck Gilas!
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Gilas
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