THE Gilas Pilipinas basketball team will have another big test against a tough and rugged New Zealand team, which have beaten the Filipinos four times in the past.
Now coached by an ex-national squad member in Judd Flavell, the Tall Blacks will seek their fifth straight triumph against the Philippine side at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers’ second round at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Philippines will have the home-court advantage going into its showdown before an expected sold-out crowd as it goes for a third straight win in Group B, this time against the bullstrong Kiwis.
“They are a tough, tough team, they are a physical team. They’re a nation of rugby players, so they know how to play physically. It’s part of their culture. It’s not personal, it’s just the way they play. So, that’s something we have to be conscious of. But I don’t think they’ve seen a team like the team we’re assembling,” added the veteran internationalist. “I think we got a shot at beating them,” said Gilas coach Tim Cone.
“This is a trial year for us. This whole program that we’ve done. It’s been a trial to see what works and doesn’t work,” added Cone on the roster he’s been assembling since he took over the national team’s coaching duties last year.
For Cone, fine-tuning the play of Gilas will be one of his goals against a confident and sturdy Tall Blacks’ quintet.
The Kiwis will be coming into the game in high spirits, having won all four of their previous clashes with Gilas. This started in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016 — an 89-80 triumph at the MOA Arena, then in the 2022 Asia Cup with a 92-75 win, followed in the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers by an 86-63 beating at the Big Dome. The last was a 106-60 demolition in Auckland.
Those wins happened during the time of former Tall Blacks’ skipper Pero Cameron, but this time, Cone will try his tactics against the debuting Flavell.
The Tall Blacks will be watching out for the return of Gilas’ young gun 6’7” Mason Amos, who had limited playing time in the past, but is expected to have more minutes, with two big guys, AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo out on injuries.
Amos’ presence will give Gilas additional firepower with his shooting. He is expected to a big help to the inside plays of JuneMar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar.
Edu is sitting out the game due to a knee injury, while Malonzo is rehabilitating from his calf surgery.
Flavell is bringing in new blood, Oscar Goodman, an outstanding teen into the senior team. The 17-year-old became the MVP in the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship in Qatar.
Goodman is impressive with his all-around stats of 14.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.3 steals to help his side to a runner-up finish.
The Tall Blacks’ 13-strong roster will have veteran guard Corey Webster Izayah Le’afa (Sydney Kings), Tom Vodanovich (Southeast Melbourne Phoenix), Tyrell Harrison (Brisbane Bullets), Sam Mennenga (BNZ Breakers), and Flynn Cameron (Melbourne United) coming back from their duties in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Games qualifying tournament in Greece.
