Gilas Pilipinas beats New Zealand 93-89 in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers

In the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas secured a historic victory over New Zealand with a 93-89 win on Thursday.

New Zealand's head coach Judd Flavell expressed pride in his team’s performance despite the loss, noting that they faced a structured and physical opponent.

Corey Webster led New Zealand with 25 points and five assists, highlighting the importance of maintaining leads throughout the game.

Gilas Pilipinas capitalized on offensive rebounds and strong play inside the key to secure their victory after falling behind by nine points in the first quarter.

Despite New Zealand’s efforts, including a late rally that cut the lead to two points with 20 seconds left, Gilas Pilipinas' physicality and defensive strategy proved decisive.

Tom Vodanovich's contributions were praised for his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting, but it was not enough to overcome Gilas Pilipinas’ dominance in the paint.