Can Gilas Pilipinas repeat over New Zealand in FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers without Kai Sotto?

After a stunning road loss to Chinese Taipei, Gilas Pilipinas are eager to bounce back as they take on New Zealand in a battle for first place in Group B of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.

[Related: Justin Brownlee, Gilas Pilipinas take on New Zealand with Group B top spot at stake]

Both teams enter with 4-1 records, making this a crucial test for the Philippines as they aim to prove their standing among Asia’s elite.

Gilas last faced the Tall Blacks in Manila last November, pulling off a historic win behind Justin Brownlee’s 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Kai Sotto also delivered one of his best performances for the national team with 19 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks. However, the 7’3” center won’t be available this time, still recovering from an ACL injury suffered in Japan’s B.LEAGUE.

Despite Sotto’s absence, Brownlee remains unstoppable, dropping 39 points with eight three-pointers in the loss to Chinese Taipei.

Dwight Ramos (15 points) and AJ Edu (10 points, six rebounds) also contributed, with Edu continuing to ease back into international competition after his own injury struggles.

Against a New Zealand squad that just crushed Hong Kong on the road, Gilas will need a strong defensive effort and better composure late in games to avoid another setback.

With first place on the line, this is a prime opportunity for Gilas to reclaim momentum and show they can handle adversity against a physical Tall Blacks squad.

Will the Philippines rise to the challenge, or will New Zealand reinforce its dominance in the matchup?

The Gilas Pilipinas-New Zealand showdown will have an early tip off Sunday, with both teams set to take the court at 10:00 a.m. (PH time).

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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]