Gilas Pilipinas superstar Justin Brownlee against New Zealand in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. Photo from Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.
MANILA — Gilas Pilipinas has beaten New Zealand in a FIBA competition for the first time ever.
The Nationals made history after they defeated the Tall Blacks, 93-89, on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, and this is the first time that they moved past the Kiwis after previously going 0-4 since they first met in 2016.
"I'm just happy for the team and happy for the country,” said Gilas star Justin Brownlee, who paced the squad into their third win in as many games in Group B with 26 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two rejections.
"We haven't beaten New Zealand, so it feels great. Coach Tim [Cone] came in with a good game plan for us, so I think we prepared very well. We expected that it's gonna be a hard game for they are one of the top teams in the world. We knew it wasn't gonna be easy.”
READ: Sotto, Brownlee power Gilas to statement win over New Zealand
This was a bounceback game for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel superstar.
Brownlee entered this qualifier fresh off a PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup Finals loss against the TNT Tropang GIGA just a few weeks ago, and he admitted that the defeat served as extra fuel for him going up against
"For sure,” he said if he had extra motivation coming into this clash against NZ. "Anytime you lose, you always try to bounce back. In the Finals, we lost, and it was a great lesson, so it feels good to play for Gilas and get a win over New Zealand.”
However, despite bouncing back by leading all scorers, Brownlee deflected the credit to Kai Sotto and the returning Scottie Thompson.
"I've been saying that he's good enough to play in the NBA,” Brownlee said of the 7-foot-3 young Gilas star who had 19 markers, 10 boards, seven dimes, and two each of blocks and steals.
Kai Sotto in Gilas Pilipinas’ victory over New Zealand in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.
"It's great playing with him. He does a lot of things very well. He can do everything, and he makes the game a lot easier for everybody."
"He's got the height, size, and skills, so it's great to see a young player like him fulfill his potential. He's got a long way to go, so I'm happy for him and excited to see what the future holds for him," furthered Brownlee of Sotto, who was, like him, vital in the third-quarter run that allowed them to move past the Kiwis.
Brownlee also hailed Thompson, who previously missed Gilas' campaign in the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Latvia earlier this year due to injury.
Scottie Thompson in Gilas Pilipinas’ victory over New Zealand in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.
"Welcome back Scottie, man!" JB said of his Ginebra teammate. "His energy is always unmatched, grabbing rebounds over seven-footers, and he's one of a kind, for sure."
Brownlee, Sotto, Thompson, and the rest of Gilas return to action on Sunday at the same Pasay bayside venue when they face Hong Kong.
Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.
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