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By REYNALD MAGALLON
Kai Sotto turned in his best performance in national team uniform while Justin Brownlee put on the finishing touches as Gilas Pilipinas finally ended New Zealand jinx, 93-89, in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, Nov. 21.
From scoring and rebounding to blocks and deflections, Sotto simply did it all as he powered Gilas to a blistering third quarter run before the veterans took over down the stretch to finally score their first win over the No.22 ranked Tall Blacks.
Sotto finished with Gilas career-high 19 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks as he sparked a 16-0 blast to turn a 56-60 deficit into a 72-60 advantage.
Brownlee fired a game-high 26 points – including two crucial free throws with 11.1 seconds left – to slam the door on the Tall Blacks’ huge comeback effort in the final frame, much to the delight of the sellout home crowd.
The Filipinos not only ended an eight-year drought against the Kiwis but also inched closer to an early qualification to the FIBA Asia Cup main draw in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next year.
Scottie Thompson chipped in 12 points and six assists while Dwight Ramos and Chris Newsome had 11 apiece.
Despite taking a double-digit lead in the final frame, Gilas had to endure some anxious moments in the waning minutes as Corey Webster and Tom Vodanovich continued to pour it on for the hot-shooting Tall Blacks.
Gilas looked to be on its way to victory after two Brownlee free throws and a Chris Newsome triple stretched the Filipinos lead back to seven, 91-84.
Vodanovich, however, scored five-straight points to keep the Tall Blacks within striking distance but a clutch Brownlee free throw and a Sotto block on the other end sealed the deal for Gilas.
Webster led the way for the visiting team, firing 25 points to lead the shooting display for New Zealand which drilled a total of 18 triples against Gilas’ only eight.
Vodanovich, the former Converge import, and 6-foot-10 center Sam Waardenburg both had 19.