Gilas Pilipinas Winless After Losses to New Zealand, Chinese Taipei in FIBA Asia Cup

Gilas Pilipinas suffered a second consecutive loss in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 group stage, falling 94-86 to New Zealand and now facing a must-win scenario against Iraq to stay in the tournament. Despite an aggressive start and a strong 37-point performance from Justin Brownlee, Gilas struggled defensively, allowing New Zealand to shoot 50% from beyond the arc and exposing slow defensive rotations. Their earlier opener against Chinese Taipei also highlighted issues such as poor shooting, foul troubles, and turnovers, which contributed to a 95-87 loss. Key players like June Mar Fajardo struggled against Chinese Taipei's naturalized player Brandon Gilbeck, while fouls and turnovers hampered the team's momentum. The upcoming game against Iraq is critical, as a loss would eliminate Gilas Pilipinas from the competition, while a win could lead them to a qualification match potentially against Australia, the two-time defending champions. Overall, Gilas' performance has been marred by defensive lapses, shooting inconsistencies, and foul problems, putting their Asia Cup hopes in jeopardy.