GILAS Pilipinas coach Tim Cone hopes to see the team’s two-game sweep of their friendlies translate to actual games when they face New Zealand on Friday in Auckland, New Zealand.
The national squad hammered NBL pro club teams Manawatu Jets and the Franklin Bulls this week as part of their preparations for the third and final window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Gilas rolled past Manawatu, 92-61 last Sunday, before clobbering Franklin, 94-66.
The two professional squads play in New Zealand’s NBL.
We played the way we wanted. Now we have to see if it will translate against better competition,” Cone told the Manila Times
In both blowout wins, naturalized player Justin Brownlee sat out to get the needed rest, since coming off a grueling seven-game PBA Commissioner’s Cup title series, where Ginebra dethroned TNT.
Fil-American big man Mike Phillips also sat out the game versus the Bulls after tweaking his ankle against the Jets.
“We still need to add Justin to the mix. He, along with Mike will practice tomorrow (Wednesday). Mike's ankle is improving and we expect him to play on Friday,” he added.
Gilas is eyeing a big win in its road game versus New Zealand, where the national team expects a big Pinoy crowd to cheer for them at the Spark Arena.
After New Zealand, Gilas travels to Perth to play world no. 6 Australia, which dealt the Philippines a 93-66 beating last February at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.