Gilas Pilipinas is back in action in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
First up is New Zealand on November 21 and then Hong Kong on November 24.
Here's what you need to know about the tournament.
[ALSO READ: Gilas Pilipinas guide: 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers November window schedule, results]
Meanwhile, here are the live updates for the game against the Tall Blacks this Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
What they said:
Tim Cone on New Zealand: It was a tough one. They are good. They are really good... To overcome that and finding a way to win was really special especially because of our home court. We had so many good lucks today.
Kai Sotto on New Zealand: They really challenged us. It was very competitive from start to end... We just wanted to protect home court.
Tim Cone on New Zealand's 3-point shooting vs Philippines' points in the paint: We have a guy who's 7'3, we have a guy who's 6'11. Our intention is to play from inside to out. We take advantage of those guys... When June Mar and Kai are on the floor together, Kai was able to get some stuff inside. Don't forget the 7 assists Kai had tonight, amazing. He's doing it all.
Tim Cone: We're built to be more of a defensive, inside-out team than we are an open court, 3-point shooting team. The disappointment tonight is we did give up 18 3-point shots and we got to get better at defending at. They were 18 of 35, that's incredible shooting.
Tim Cone: I felt in second half, we really got out and challenged. They really had to work on those threes. Every time they missed, we cleaned the reb up, we didn't give them second chances. We were able to run the floor and get something close to the rim.
Tim Cone on Scottie Thompson: I remember a time when there was a lot of talk that Scottie can't play the international game... In my mind, there's never been any doubt. And in his mind, there's never been any doubt.
You can look at video all you want until you actually get on the floor and play against him. You don't realize what he's doing out there on the floor for you.
He's been that triple-double machine ever since he was at Perpetual. To me, it's not a surprise... Still amazing, the things he does.
Tim Cone on Kraken-Kaiju tandem: Honestly to me, I just love playing June Mar and Kai together. It's so much fun to watch. They have great synergy, they look for each other, they complement each other. You don't see very many two power inside guys playing the game together anymore these days. It's fun to watch the play, really enjoy it.
Top performers for Gilas Pilipinas vs New Zealand
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Justin Brownlee: 26 pts, 8/13 FG, 11 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk
- Kai Sotto: 19 pts, 8/14 FG, 10 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk
- Scottie Thompson: 12 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast
- Chris Newsome: 11 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl
- Dwight Ramos: 11 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast
All the celebration for Gilas Pilipinas inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
"JUST BELIEVE" | FINAL | Philippines 93-89 New Zealand
After four losses to New Zealand, Gilas Pilipinas finally gets one against the Tall Blacks and gets the 3-0 lead in Group B of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
"Just believe," coach Tim Cone said. And they believed.
Incredible moment for Gilas Pilipinas. Josh Reyes makes the play, Scottie Thompson and Chris Newsome make it happen.
Philippines 91-84 New Zealand
@onesportsphl NEWNEW KNOCKS IT DOWN! 💥 Chris Newsome fires a crucial three from Scottie Thompson using a Josh Reyes play to widen the lead. Kai Sotto and Justin Brownlee secure the final possession to seal Gilas Pilipinas' win over New Zealand in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers! #GilasPilipinas #PUSO #OneSports #AsiaCup ? original sound - OneSportsPHL
END OF Q3 | Philippines 72-63 New Zealand
Top Gilas performers so far:
- Justin Brownlee: 15 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast
- Kai Sotto: 15 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast
- Scottie Thompson: 12 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast
@onesportsphl LET HIM COOK 🔥 Scottie Thompson puts up strong dishes to provide opportunities for Gilas Pilipinas to convert multiple points against New Zealand in the third quarter at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers! #GilasPilipinas #PUSO #OneSports #AsiaCup
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
🚨 THIS IS NOT A DRILL
Gilas Pilipinas has a double-digit lead against the Tall Blacks of New Zealand, 72-60 in Q3.
It's Scottie Thompson's turn to hustle.
He has 9 points so far with 7:57 left in Q3.
HALFTIME STATS | Gilas Pilipinas 45-45 New Zealand
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Biggest scoring run: PHI 9-0 | NZL 10-0
- 2-pt FG: PHI 68.42% | NZL 37.5%
- 3-pt FG: PHI 29.41% | NZL 50%
- Points off turnovers: PHI 3 | NZL 9
- Fastbreak points: PHI 6 | NZL 3
- Points in the paint: PHI 24 | NZL 6
HALFTIME | Philippines 45-45 New Zealand
Top Gilas Pilipinas performers:
- Justin Brownlee: 11 pts, 5/8 FG, 8 reb, 3 ast
- Scottie Thompson: 9 pts, 4/6 FG, 1 reb, 1 ast
- Kai Sotto: 8 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast
Let's look at that Dwight Ramos-Kai Sotto connection for the slam again.
@onesportsphl ST. DWIGHT ?? KAIJU 🇵🇭 A slick no-look pass from Dwight Ramos sets up a strong dunk for Kai Sotto in Gilas Pilipinas’ second window game against New Zealand at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers! #GilasPilipinas #PUSO #OneSports #AsiaCup ? original sound - OneSportsPHL
That Kai Sotto spin fake was a thing of beauty.
His back-to-back baskets helped Gilas Pilipinas bring them back to fighting distance.
@onesportsphl JB WITH THE DISH, KAIJU WITH THE FINISH 🔥 Justin Brownlee lobs a perfect long pass, and Kai Sotto slams it home on the fastbreak for Gilas Pilipinas against New Zealand in their second-window clash at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers! #GilasPilipinas #PUSO #OneSports #AsiaCup
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
END OF 1ST QUARTER | Philippines 20-22 New Zealand
Gilas Pilipinas top performers:
- Kai Sotto: 6 points, 2/3 FG, 3 rebounds
- Justin Brownlee: 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
As of November 21, 7:38 p.m.
CHILLING FEELS
Para sa bayan: National anthem hits different.
Watching the Tall Blacks do haka never gets old.
As of November 21, 7:31 p.m.
Gilas Pilipinas starters:
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#9 Scottie Thompson
- #11 Kai Sotto
- #15 June Mar Fajardo
- #24 Dwight Ramos
- #32 Justin Brownlee
New Zealand starters:
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#5 Taylor Britt
- #7 Walter Brown
- #9 Corey Webster
-
#24 Tyrell Harrison
- #93 Sam Waardenburg
As of November 21, 7:14 p.m.
Gilas Pilipinas gets a warm welcome at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the game against New Zealand.
Gilas Pilipinas is ready to face a powerhouse Tall Blacks side, New Zealand, for the fifth time. Can the national team finally take the W?
As of November 21, 6:51 p.m.
UAAP to Gilas Pilipinas
From Kevin Quiambao to Mason Amos to Sean Chambers, the UAAP is well-represented in Gilas Pilipinas.
Carl Tamayo is at the court, warming up for the game against New Zealand.
As of November 21, 6:05 p.m.
BLUE TO REPRESENT GILAS 🇵🇭
The Mall of Asia Arena is ready to paint the town blue in support of Gilas Pilipinas’ game against powerhouse New Zealand at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Some fans have already taken the opportunity to don blue.
As of November 21, 5 p.m.
The version of Tall Blacks that New Zealand has sent to Manila is not quite the same roster from the February window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
READ: What Gilas Pilipinas can capitalize on against New Zealand in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas appointed Alfrancis Chua as new program director and team manager for Gilas Pilipinas.
READ: Alfrancis Chua happy to serve PH with new Gilas role
The Philippines impressed enough in the February window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, as well as in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, to improve in the power rankings.
READ: Gilas Pilipinas rises to no. 2 in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers power rankings
As of November 20
Hyped up for Gilas Pilipinas vs the Tall Blacks?
@onesportsphl ITO NA, PILIPINAS! 🇵🇭🫡 Matagal nang inaasam ng Gilas Pilipinas ang panalo laban sa New Zealand Tall Blacks! Putulin na kaya nila bukas ang winning streak ng Tall Blacks sa tulong nina Kai Sotto at June Mar Fajardo? Abangan ang mainit na laban ng ating Gilas Pilipinas kontra New Zealand sa FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers bukas, 7:30 p.m., LIVE sa One Sports, One Sports+, at Pilipinas Live app. #OneSports #OSMatchHype #AsiaCup ? original sound - OneSportsPHL
Final 12 for Gilas Pilipinas as expected:
-
Japeth Aguilar (Call-up)
- Mason Amos (Call-up)
- Justin Brownlee
- Junemar Fajardo
- Chris Newsome
- Calvin Oftana
- CJ Perez
- Kevin Quiambao
- Dwight Ramos
- Kai Sotto
- Carl Tamayo
- Scottie Thompson