By REYNALD MAGALLON
Ever since head coach Tim Cone took the helm for Gilas, the Nationals have developed a habit of breaking curses and ending droughts – first, the 61-year wait for a gold medal in the Asian Games and then the 64-year losing skid against European teams when it defeated Latvia in the Olympic Qualifying tournament.
Now, another jinx is challenging Cone’s magic as Gilas Pilipinas try to end a four-game losing spell against New Zealand in the second window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers before an anticipated sellout crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, Nov. 21.
Showcasing the same core, featuring Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, Justin Brownlee and Dwight Ramos, that turned heads during the OQT last July, Cone believes that he has finally formed a crew capable of toppling the Tall Blacks.
Then add Scottie Thompson – the energy guy and stabilizer that Filipinos sorely missed in that OQT run – there’s certainly a rumbling mood of excitement from the fans as their new-found belief for the national team had them craving to witness the Gilas magic against a formidable foe.
For one, New Zealand, despite parading some fresh young faces in the team along with a brand new coach, remains to be the world No.22 team in the world, 12 rungs ahead of Gilas which sits at the No.34 spot.
“This (New Zealand) team looks, if I may say, a lot younger but more athletic and their coach is brand new. He has brought three or four players along. He’s gonna have continuity,” said Cone who, despite his confidence for his wards, remains wary of the Kiwis ahead of the contest.
“I think this will be their first game together as a group and I remember our first game when we played Hong Kong, there’s a lot of excitement, energy and we were raring to play. We are expecting that from them as well,” he added.
Gilas and the Tall Blacks are the two undefeated teams in the Group B and a win for either team would put them closer to an assured spot to the FIBA Asia Cup main draw in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next year.
History is no doubt on the side of New Zealand, having defeated Gilas four times in the past with a winning margin of 24.5 points. A huge reason for that is the presence of a reliable point guard for the Tall Blacks in veteran Corey Webster.
“Corey Webster is there and he’s one of the guys that we have to be attentive to. He can change the game. When he gets hot, he gets rolling and he can really change the game,” said Cone.
“They are bringing a lot more size than they have in the past. They got a couple of 6-foot-11 and 7-feet players and they haven’t had those in the past. They’ve been on their youth team and now they’re being brought up,” he added.
Gilas, however, looked ready for the marquee showdown, winning its lone tuneup game against the Meralco Bolts, 96-82.
The PBA team both had its Commissioner’s Cup import Akil Mitchell and naturalized player Ange Kouame to try to simulate the size of New Zealand but the Nationals still led by as many as 16 in the contest.
