MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas’ path to the FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinals has only gotten tougher.

The Philippines will face dangerous Japan in the knockout playoffs after absorbing a 92-75 loss to New Zealand to wrap up the group stage at the Istora Stadium on Sunday, July 17.

Dominated by the Tall Blacks on the boards, the Filipinos finished third in Group D with a 1-2 card and will tangle with the Akatsuki Five – the Group C second seed – for a place in the quarterfinals.

Kiefer Ravena submitted his finest performance of the tournament as he churned out 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists to lead the Philippines.

Scoreless in the maiden period, Ravena unloaded all of his 9 first-half points in a 15-5 run that sliced a 23-38 deficit to just 5 points, 38-43, with a minute left in the second frame.

But the Kiwis got their groove back in the last two quarters as they enjoyed a lead as big as 20 points before they settled for the 17-point win.

The best rebounding squad in the 16-team tournament, New Zealand crashed the boards with tenacity, hauling down 21 boards to the Philippines’ one after the first period.

Overall, the Tall Blacks outrebounded the Filipinos 61-28.

“We lost the game in the first quarter. Got outrebounded by 33 rebounds. There is no way for us to win a ballgame getting outrebounded that way,” said Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes.

“But we told the players today at the dugout after the game, we still have a chance, one more against Japan to get to the top eight.”

Kevin Quiambao posted 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, Carl Tamayo chimed in 14 points and 4 rebounds, while Ray Parks added 10 points in the loss.

A Parks triple and a Tamayo jumper kept the Philippines within shouting distance, 72-84, but Taine Murray and Takiula Fahrensohn sank back-to-back treys that allowed New Zealand to pull away.

Flynn Cameron delivered 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists to power the Tall Blacks, who improved to 2-1 to secure the second seed in Group D.

Murray put up 16 points and 8 rebounds as Kruz Perrott-Hunt (12), Tohi Smith-Milner (11), and Isaac Davidson (10) all scored in double figures.

New Zealand will face Group C third-placer Syria in the qualification to the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Lebanon topped Group D with a perfect 3-0 record to nail an outright quarterfinals berth as it cruised to a 104-63 rout of India, which got the boot after going winless in three games.

The Scores

New Zealand 92 – Cameron 18, Murray 16, Perrott-Hunt 12, Smith-Milner 11, Davidson 10, Britt 8, Fahrensohn 7, Timmins 4, Hunt 4, Mennanga 2, Keil 0.

Philippines 75 – K. Ravena 17, Quiambao 14, Tamayo 14, Parks 10, T. Ravena 7, Erram 6, Belangel 4, Abando 3,  Navarro 0, Lopez 0, Chiu 0, Abarrientos 0.

Quarters: 30-16, 46-38, 67-52, 92-75.

– Rappler.com