Gilas Pilipinas fails to convert on golden chances vs Kiwis

Justin Brownlee (No. 32) battles the tall New Zealand frontline for a rebound in this bit of play. The Filipinos lost, 106-102. —FIBA.COM PHOTO

Coach Tim Cone can only imagine how things would be like had Gilas Pilipinas managed to hang on and completed a hard-fought win against New Zealand on the latter’s home turf.

Cone and Gilas had to endure another defeat to the Tall Blacks, and this could be the most painful one, a 106-102 double overtime result despite multiple chances of leaving Auckland with a victory in the third window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

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“It would have been nice to be able to come down here and steal a game,” Cone said. “It would have been special.”

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The Philippines had won just once in its previous eight meetings with New Zealand in Fiba competition, which happened back home in late-2024.

Gilas had its chances, leading by seven in the fourth after being down by two. The Filipinos led, 93-91, late in the first overtime on a three-pointer by Juan Gomez de Liaño, and at 100-96 in the second extra session after a triple by the struggling Justin Brownlee.

But somehow, Gilas would either commit a foul or be forced to turnovers that contributed to its doom. In the end, Cone and company will have to deal with Gilas going down to 2-3 in Group A.

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“The fact that we got as close as we did, obviously it’s a huge disappointment,” lamented Cone. “What could feel that it’s in your grasp, but we let it slip away and it makes it tough.

We had a chance in regulation and in both overtimes … we just came up short.”

Gilas wraps up the first round on Monday against Australia in Perth.

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While the manner of how the contest ended was painful, Gilas seemed to have given itself and its supporters a reason to be optimistic.

Gomez de Liaño turned in 23 points in a performance that may have solidified his place in the pool. He was the one that forced the first overtime at 83-all, taking advantage of an open spot from the right elbow to nail the game-tying three.

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In the first overtime period, Gomez de Liaño pulled up for the three-pointer that appeared to be the one that would get Gilas over the line. It became 93-91 with 10 seconds left, but Dwight Ramos was called for a foul while trying to defend Shea Ili off the inbound. The Tall Blacks hit both free throws to extend the contest. INQ