Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) – Gilas Pilipinas ended their 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers home games on a sorry note after New Zealand Tall Blacks routed them on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The final score: 88-63.
Thirdy Ravena led all scorers in the game with 23 points, along with five rebounds, and five assists while Dwight Ramos notched a double-double outing of 18 markers and 10 boards for their losing effort.
Gilas trailed by just a small margin in the first half as the Tall Blacks struggled offensively.
In the second half, though, the Kiwis found their offensive range and manhandled the smaller Philippine team on the defensive end to increase their lead to double digits.
Dion Prewster and Tom Vodanovich both finished with 20 points as the Tall Blacks maintain their unbeaten slate in Group A.
The next World Cup qualifiers first round window is scheduled on June 30-July 4.
The Scores:
NEW ZEALAND 88 – Vodanovich 20, Prewster 20, Loe 15, Samuel 12, Rusbatch 10, Harris 5, Fahrensohn 4, Britt 2, Cook-Green 0, Gold 0, Rodger 0, Wynyard 0
GILAS 63 – Ravena 23, Ramos 18, Bolick 10, Kouame 5, Pogoy 4, Rosario 2, Williams 1, Montalbo 0, Erram 0, Gomez De Liano 0, Navarro 0, Tungcab 0
Quarterscores: 22-19, 40-30, 65-48, 88-63
