GILAS Pilipinas finally scored a breakthrough against New Zealand, 93-89, to extend its unbeaten record in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers Thursday night.
Justine Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, and big man Kai Sotto put together a backbreaking 16-0 run in the third period to turn the game around and pulled off the stirring win before a huge crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Brownlee, 36, finished with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, the 7-foot-3 Sotto had a near triple double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while Thompson with 12 and six rebounds in the win that put a stop to the Philippines' eight-year, four-game losing streak against the Tall Blacks.
"It's a tough one. They (Tall Blacks) are good, they are really good. They are incredibly physical and I think that's the no. 1 thing we have to battle through," said national team coach Tim Cone in the post-game presser.
The Filipinos are now at solo no. 1 in Group B with a 3-0 record, while the Tall Blacks fell to a 2-1 record.
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They can formally clinched a spot in the Asia Cup proper with another win against winless Hong Kong on Sunday also at the same Pasay venue.
Until that game-changing run by the home team, the Tall Blacks had everything under control and were still on top, 60-56.
"So to overcome that and to find a way to win was really special. Special because of our home court, our home crowd, and the people watching," said Cone. "There were a lot of attention on the game and our game were, you know, pressured to win. And they found a way. And I'm proud of them."
But the visiting team, which led by as many as 13-4 early in the first quarter, had a lot of fight left even after Gilas took a 72-60 edge during the height of its scoring run.
The Tall Blacks were still within 91-89 on a three pointer by former Converge import Tom Vodanovich with 20 seconds left, before Brownlee sealed the deal with two insurance free throws.
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Former NBA player Corey Webster led New Zealand with 25 points, but only had two in the final quarter. He did finish on a 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, while adding five assists.
Vodanovich added 19 (5-of-7 from long range), ditto with Sam Waardenburg. (RG)
The scores:
Gilas Pilipinas (93) -- Brownlee 26, Sotto 19, Thompson 12, Newsome 11, Ramos 11, Fajardo 6, Perez 3, Oftana 3, Tamayo 2, Aguilar 0.
New Zealand (89) -- Webster 25, Vodanovich 19, Waardenburg 19, Britt 8, Le'afa 6, Brown 5, Harris 3, Cameron 2, Harrison 2.
Quarterscores: 20-22; 45-45; 72-63; 93-89.
