Gilas Pilipinas Youth’s climb back to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup has become steeper following another loss in the ongoing U16 Asia Cup.
The Filipino dribblers started out cold and could not recover, ultimately bowing to New Zealand, 85–54, in the final day of the 2025 competitions’ Group Phase, Tuesday at the Buyant Ukhaa Sport Complex in Mongolia.
Coming off a 65-60 escape versus Indonesia barely 24 hours ago, the crew proved no match to the Junior Tall Blacks right from the get-go. The latter ran to a 17–5 start, and things would turn from bad to worse for the SEABA reps.
So stagnant was their offense that they ended the first 10 minutes with only seven points to their total. They then only breached double-digits with 6:33 to go in the second period courtesy of Prince Carino from close range.
(C) FIBA.basketball
But they struggled to put together a major threat, eventually absorbing their second loss of the tourney and ending up at third in Group B with a 1–2 card.
Still, the Philippines is heading for the Qualification to quarterfinals scheduled on Thursday, September 4, against the No.2 team of Group A in Bahrain, who clinched the said spot after crushing India earlier, 111–80.
That game saw Hassan Abdulkadir and Somto Patrick star with 30-point double-doubles each, and the tandem alone posed a huge problem for Gilas Youth — and the program’s aim of keeping its quarterfinals streak alive.
The country has never missed the biennial continental meet’s final eight since its inception in 2009, and has in fact advanced to the semifinals five times. It even took home a silver medal back in 2013 for its best finish to date.
Reaching the semis also merits a trip to the U17 World Cup, in which the Philippines has participated three times, including the 2024 edition.
Some of the previous batches had to go through the Qualification to quarterfinals as well, including the team that competed in 2023 in Doha.
That squad, coached by Josh Reyes, managed to go all the way to the final four, though, and finished fourth after bowing to China in the Third-Place Game.
(C) FIBA.basketball
But while this Gilas Youth of LA Tenorio prepares for the difficult journey ahead, New Zealand coasted to the quarterfinals directly as the 2023 runners-up clinched the top spot in the group with an immaculate 3–0 record.
Liam Keogh led the way with a game-high 17 points and 7 assists. Lawson Pryor had 15 points and 6 rebounds, while Marco Sula produced 11 points.
Lincoln Wilson notched 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Noah Duncan also came through with 10 points, as five finished in double figures in the win.
That balanced attack was something that the Philippines could only envy. Jhustin Hallare and Jhello Lumague were the only ones who scored in twin digits with 13 and 11 points, respectively, in another humiliating defeat.
The Scores:
New Zealand (85) – Keogh 17, Pryor 15, Sula 11, Duncan 10, Wilson 10, Tuupo 8, Couper 5, Rampton 4, Ohio 3, 2, Tuimaunei 0.
Philippines (54) – Hallare 13, Lumagub 11, Carino 9, Cruz 7, Cabanero 5, Pascual 4, Tan-Chi 3, Delos Reyes 2, Pascual 0, Orca 0, Restificar 0, Antolin 0.
Quarterscores: 17-7, 42-26, 66-44, 85-54.
