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Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during a game vs New Zealand in the 2027 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers at Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. –FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) after the squad’s painful double overtime loss to New Zealand in the 2027 Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Following the Philippines’ 106-102 loss to the Tall Blacks at Spark Arena on Friday, Cone aired his sentiments online and surprisingly, it wasn’t all about Gilas.
Instead, Cone celebrated Alex Eala, who scored a historic victory over Australia’s Maya Joint in the second round of Wimbledon.
“That was as painful as it can get. I’m at least happy that Alex was able to win her match,” wrote Cone. “Her win was for the country. We couldn’t do our part. Hurting.”
That was as painful as it can get. I'm at least happy that Alex was able to win her match. Her win was for the country. We couldn't do our part. Hurting.
— Tim Cone (@manilacone) July 3, 2026
Unlike Eala, Gilas was unable to get past its opponent from Down Under. But the Philippines had its chances—multiple, in fact.
Trailing by three late in the fourth quarter, Juan Gomez de Liaño buried a triple to force overtime at 83-all.
Almost the same thing happened in the extra period, with Gomez de Liaño, who finished with 23 points, drilling another three-pointer to put Gilas ahead, 93-91, with 10 seconds left.
The Tall Blacks, however, stayed composed as Shea Ili knocked down two free throws to send the game to a second overtime, 93-all.
Nothing, though, was more painful than Gilas’ collapse in the second extra period.
Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos being helped up by his teammates during a game vs New Zealand in the Fiba World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers in Auckland. –FIBA PHOTO
Justin Brownlee, who struggled with only five points, scored a triple to bring Gilas up by four, 100-96, with 2:12 to go.
What looked like a Gilas victory quickly turned into heartbreak as New Zealand closed the game on a 10-2 run, dropping the Philippines to 2-3 in the qualifiers.
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Gilas gets a chance to bounce back against Australia on Monday.
Eala, meanwhile, will face Iga Świątek in the third round of Wimbledon on Saturday.
