Captain Jordan Ngatai led New Zealand’s Tall Blacks to their second win at the Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia, defeating the Philippines 94–86.
Ngatai scored 22 points, making nearly all of his shots, including a perfect five from five three-pointers. The win keeps the Tall Blacks undefeated in the tournament.
The match was far from easy. Philippines player Justin Brownlee scored a remarkable 37 points, closing the gap to just three points in the final quarter. But Ngatai’s fifth three-pointer and strong team defence helped New Zealand seal the victory.
Teammate Taylor Britt contributed 19 points and seven assists, while Flynn Cameron added 12 points. The Tall Blacks set the tone early by hitting nine three-pointers in the first half, taking a 55–41 lead at halftime.
Ngatai said the game was “really physical” and praised his teammates for stepping up when it mattered. Coach Judd Flavell added that games like this are good preparation for tougher matches ahead.
The Tall Blacks will next face Chinese Taipei, who are also unbeaten. The winner will move directly into the quarter-finals, while the loser will have to play a qualification game for a spot.
