Wazzup Pilipinas!?
Gilas Pilipinas, the Philippine Men's National Basketball Team, ended a four-game losing streak against New Zealand, after escaping with a 93-89 victory that marked the country's first win against the Kiwis, held inside the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The game started with an 8-0 blast from New Zealand that prompted Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach Tim Cone to call for an early timeout. Naturalize player Justin Brownlee scored back to back baskets in the seventh minute, followed up by a Dwight Ramos triple to make it 9-13, in favor of New Zealand.
A back and forth first quarter saw New Zealand taking a 2-point lead courtesy of a late jumper off the top of the free-throw line from Sam Waardenburg. The Tall Blacks of New Zealand took the lead, 22-20.
The second period was an intense battle for both teams as they traded key baskets. The quarter also Gilas leading by 4 points after a Justin Brownlee three-point shot, 43-39. New Zealand still managed to tie things up after a last second triple from former PBA Converge FiberXers import, Tom Vodanovich. The game is at 45 all heading into the halftime break.
A four-point deficit in the third quarter saw the Philippines mounting a huge answer via a 16-0 run that gave them a 72-60 lead before a three-point shot from New Zealand's Corey Webster stopped the bleeding for the Tall Blacks.
Gilas led by 7 at the 1:09 mark of the fourth quarter after a dagger three from Chris Newsome. New Zealand tried to mount a comeback and even inched as close as 2 points, 91-89, with less than 14 seconds on the clock after a three-point basket from Tom Vodanovich.
The Kiwis, who are in the penalty, intentionally fouled Justin Brownlee on the ensuing play that gave the Philippines a pair of free throws, which Brownlee calmly made his twin attempts to win the game for Gilas Pilipinas, 93-89.
Justin Brownlee, who finished with 26 points, and Kai Sotto, who had a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, led the Philippines. The Kiwis, on the other hand, were paced by Corey Webster who ended with 25 points.
With the victory, the National team is now 3-0 in Group B of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, and a win against Hong Kong on Sunday will give them the ticket to next year's games in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Written by: Renz Delim
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