Gilas loses 87-70 to NZ, coach cites packed schedule

Gilas Pilipinas suffered another loss to New Zealand in their rematch during the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, with the score ending 87-70.

Coach Tim Cone admitted that the team's packed schedule before the third window may have hurt their preparation, leading to consecutive losses against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

Tohi Smith-Milner led New Zealand's offense with 25 points and five three-pointers while New Zealand hit ten triples in the first half alone for a significant lead.

Chris Newsome scored 13 points and Justin Brownlee added 10, but Gilas struggled to recover from their early deficit despite a strong fourth-quarter push.

Gilas missed key player Kai Sotto due to a knee ligament tear, affecting their strategy and performance throughout the game.

Despite these losses, both teams have already secured their places in the FIBA Asia Cup scheduled for August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Filipino crowd showed strong support for Gilas despite being on the road, filling the arena's stands and cheering loudly.